Download Japanese Theatre - Tucson Unified School District

Japanese Theatre
Noh
Did you Noh….
Noh is a highly stylized form of theatre
that enacts stories from Japan’s classical
literature.

The Plays
Content of the Noh play is almost always
tragic.
 Written in prose or in verse
 Performances are a day long, but the Noh
play itself are very short (1 hr)

The Stage
The stage

Temple roof supported by 4 columns
– First Actor, Pillar, Mark Pillar, and Flute Players Pillar
– Each of these represents either the placement of the actor’s
entrance, or the part of the stage in which the musician stands


Hurry door- used by minor characters, musicians, stage
assistants for quick entrances and exits.
3 real small pine trees
– They stand for heaven, earth, and man along the pebble path

Epiphany Pine- painted on the center wall representing
spirituality.
The Stage breakdown
Pine Representing Man
The Pebble Path
Pine
Representing
Heaven
Staircase
Pine
Representing
Earth
Masks & Costumes
Noh masks can convey several different
emotions and pictures
 Masks are worn when portraying a female
or supernatural beings
 Costumes do not resemble the SES of the character
they
portray.

Japanese Theatre
Kabuki
What is Kabuki?
Kabuki- meaning “off balance” or
“unconventional”
 Ka for music, bu for dance, and ki for skill
An energetic form of theatre that began
around 1600 by Okuni.

 She drew inspiration from Buddhist dances
with contemporary forms
Plays that once lasted a full day, but today
only last about 5 hours.
 Includes themes of feuds, revenge,
adventure, and romance
Kabuki Acting
Highly stylized form of story
telling
The audience is aware they are
in the theatre watching a play.
Actors specialize in certain
characters.
Movement is also stylized

The Plays
The text of the play is less
important than the acting.
 To reveal emotions they display
exaggerated facial expressions
and strike dramatic poses.
Very similar to Western musicals

The Stage
Combines a proscenium stage
and a thrust stage.

 Who can tell me what these are?
Hamamichi- “Flower path” The
stage connects to a ramp that
runs to the rear of the auditorium.

 This runway is used by actors for
dramatic entrances and exits.
Musicians
sit on stage
Role of Women in
Kabuki
Okuni began origins of Kabuki in
Japanese culture
 However, in the mid 1600’s
women were banned from kabuki
for engaging in prostitution.
 As a result male Kabuki
performers were then to portray
women on stage, thus creating

ONNAGATA
Role of Men in Kabuki
When
women became banned
men began to portray female
roles (just like Shakespeare)
 Studying the art of Kabuki is
begun in childhood
 It is an art that is passed down
over generations.
Spectacle- Makeup
as Kumadori
Not realistic looking
The face is painted with white
and bold lines, mostly red or blue.
Red lines= Virtue/ strength
Blue= Evil
Known
SpectacleCostumes &
Scenery
What are some differences
between Noh and Kabuki?
Differenes


Noh uses masks, Kabuki
uses makeup
Noh is subtle in
movemnts, Kabuki is loud
Similarities
Bunraku
Japanese Theatre
What is Bunraku?
Japanese puppet theatre!
 First signs of use in the 16th century

– Flourished in 1872- 19th C.

This is not what western culture thinks of
when they think of puppet show
What Makes it Different?
These puppets are NOT marrionets, sock
or hand puppets.
 Bunraku puppets stand about about 3 feet
tall
 They are controlled by a series of pullies
and strings controlled by 3 puppeteers
 Another unique component is that they
control facial expressions as well (Think
Sesame Street, but cooler!)

The Play
The first “townsfolk” plays
 The plays first started out
more historical, legendary, or
heroic tales
 Then turned to actual
incidents- like love suicide

Puppeteers
These puppeteers are seen by the
audience- very different from western
theatre
 The main puppeteer controls the head

– The main puppeteer’s face remains uncovered
– The other puppeteers are in blacks from head
to toe. This creates
the idea that they are
“invisible” to the
audience.
Cont.
The puppeteers become one with the
puppet.
 They all must work together to create a
realistic character through the puppet.
 It can take years to become the main
puppeteer- can take up to thirty years!
