Prepared by: Ariel L. Almazora
THEATE
R
Theatre or theater is a collaborative
form of performing art that uses
live performers, usually actors or
actresses, to present the
experience of a real or imagined
event before a live audience in a
specific place, often a stage
THEATER
TYPES AND
FORMS
SMALL DRAMA
THEATERS
This type of theater has about 50 – 300
seats, however, it may also have a
maximum of 400. it has no separate
stage. It provides an intimacy between
the performers and the audience
because of its size.
ARENA
This type of theater is similar to the structure
of Araneta Coliseum in which the audience
surrounds the stage except that Araneta is
large and has a capacity of 16, 500.
Entrances and exits in the arena are provided
through vomitories' or gaps in the seating
arrangement.
THRUST
It is a theater with an extended stage
surrounded on three sides by the audience.
At the back of the thrust stage, there may be
an enclosed proscenium stage which
provides background scenery. However, a
limited audience can view the proscenium
opening. Entrances of actors and actresses
are at the front of the thrust gaps in the
seating.
END
STAGE
In the end stage theater, the stage
and audience seats are found in
the same architectural space.
Seated right in the front of the stage
is the audience.
FLEXIBLE
THEATERS
theater,
as what the term
Flexible
implies,
suggests that the stage (playing space) and
audience seating can be arranged as
required by each production. The theater can
be fixed into the arena, thrust, and end
stage. Other forms for this type of stage
include environmental, promenade, black
box, and studio theater. Each of these
theater forms has distinct features.
ENVIRONMENTAL
THEATER
It is a type of theater in which its architecture, space,
or design is what the play’s storyline requires. For
instance, if the setting of the story is in a hotel, the
play may be set in a hotel, or if in a soldiers camp
where Rizal was detained like Fort Santiago, then
the play may be set in a particular space in Fort
Santiago where Rizal was detained. Both audience
space and performance space may intermingle.
PROMENADE
THEATER
It is a theater that does not provide fixed seating to the
audience. This arrangement allows more freedom for the
standing audience to intermingle with the performance.
It also allows them to follow the central action through
different settings. Promenade theater thus has two
distinct features: (1) moving audience; and (2) multiple –
focus action.
BLACK BOX
THEATER
Black box theater became popular in the 1920s. It is a type of
theater with a very simple design: one space with four
walls, a ceiling, and a floor, all painted in black. The use of
lighting and staging may range from simple to elaborate
depending on the type of production. Black box theater
aims “to connect the audience to the performers in a
purposeful and uninterrupted way” (Staging Concepts,
n.d.)
STUDIO
THEATER
A studio theater is a small flexible theater
wherein the stage and audience seating
can be arranged. The main floor can be
made into an arena, end stage, thrust,
and flat floor.
COURTYARD
THEATER
This is a flexible theater wherein its central area can
be configured into arena, thrust, end stage, and
flat floor. Despite its variety of theatrical forms, it
has one common characteristic: having at least
one raised seating surrounding a central area.
COURTYARD
THEATER
This type of theater was inspired by
Shakesperean theaters during
Elizabethan times. It was during the
reign of Elizabeth 1 that many plays
were performed in the courtyards of
London inns.
LARGE DRAMA
THEATERS
Large drama theaters have a seating capacity of 300
to 900. It may also have a maximum seating
capacity of up to 1,100. Large drama theaters may
take the form of proscenium, thrust, or open stage.
PROSCENIUM
THEATER
Encyclopedia Britannica defines proscenium, in theater, as “the
frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium,
through which the action of a play is viewed”.
The word “proscenium” comes from the Greek word proskenion,
which refers to a “row of columns, supporting a raised acting
platform (logeion), and afterward to the entire acting area”.
PROSCENIUM
THEATER
Proscenium theater occupies two separate “boxes” or
rooms. The stage box is the playing area where actors
perform. It has fly space and wings that allow for diverse
scenic and lighting effects. The audience box or audience
seating may take several forms such fan-shaped,
courtyard, lyric, and others.
In Proscenium theater, “the opening between the auditorium
and stage is called the proscenium frame, proscenium
opening, proscenium arch, or simply the proscenium.
THRUST STAGE
It is a large thrust stage with the
audience surrounding the three sides
of the performance area. Some
examples of thrust stages include
Tyrone Guthie’s thrust spaces in
Stratford, Ontario, and Minneapolis,
Minnesotta, and the Olivier Theater in
the National Theatre in London.
OPEN
STAGE
Also known as platform stage, a theatrical
stage without a proscenium, projecting
into the audience and surrounded on
three sides by the audience”. Thrust and
open stage can be used interchangeably;
the only difference is that open stage is
associated with more frontal arrangement
ACT IT OUT!!
DRAMA
DRAMA
The term drama is taken from a Greek word “dran” which
means to do or to act. It is the portrayal of fictional or nonfictional events through the performance of written
dialogue.”
“Drama according to Aristotle is a poetic composition acted
in front of audiences in a theatron.”
• An English poet, dramatist,
and actor often called as the
English National Poet and the
Father of English Drama
• Considered by many to be
the greatest dramatist or
playwright of all time.
• Notable works are Hamlet,
Romeo and Juliet etc.
TYPES
OF
DRAMA
COMEDY
COMEDY
Comedy
is a type of drama that aims to make the
audience laugh. Its tone is light and it mostly has a
happy ending. The classic conception of comedy came
from the Ancient Greek theatre, where comedy first
emerged as a form of drama.
EX. lampoon, farce, satire, black comedy
FAMOUS COMEDY PLAYS
tragedy
TRAGEDY
Tragedy
is a type of drama in which the protagonist or
hero is brought down by his/her flaws. Tragedy First
appeared in the theatre of Ancient Greece. Like Comedy, it
lived through the Roman Empire, Medieval times,
Renaissance, and other eras.
TRAGEDY
tragicomedy
TRAGICOMEDY
Tragicomedy is a special kind of drama that
combines the features of tragedy and comedy. Unlike
comedy and tragedy, tragicomedy emerged a bit later,
in the times of Roman Empire. Roman dramatist
Plautus was the first to write a tragicomedy and use
the term.
TRAGICOMEDY
MELODRAMA
MELODRAMA
Melodrama
is a kind of drama in which everything is
hyperbolized. It was originated much later than comedy,
tragedy, and tragicomedy. It first appeared in France at the
end of the 18th century and become one of the most popular
types of drama in 19th century.
MELODRAMA
Elements
of
DRAMA
The theme of a play refers to its central idea.
It can be either be clearly stated through
dialogue or action or can be inferred after
watching the entire performance.
Plot is the chain of
events in a play.
It is a sequence of
events that make up a
story.
A character can be any person, animal, creature, or thing in a
story that performs the actions and speak the dialogues, moving
the story along the plot line.
Dialogue is the conversation
between two or more characters.
Refers to the time and place in
which the story takes place..
Performance is about
how actors give life to
the characters that are
written on paper.
Music includes the use of sounds
and rhythm in dialogues. It also
includes music compositions that
are used in plays.
The Visual Element of drama, also known as the
spectacle, gives a visual appeal to the stage set-up. The
costumes and makeup of characters are also parts of
visual elements.
LET’S TRY!
1. A drama that is
lighthearted and
is intended to
make people
laugh.
5. A form of
literature meant to
be performed on
stage in front of the
audience
3. A type of
drama wherein
tragedy and
comedy are
blended
together.
2. An
exaggerated
kind of drama
in literature.
4. A type of
drama which
arrives at
terrible
catharsis.
6. It is the
message or
insight of the
drama
13. It includes the
costumes and
makeup of
characters and the
visual appeal of
the stage set-up.
12. Speech
between
characters in a
play.
7. When and
where the story
takes place
11. It is a
sequence of
events that
make up a
story.
8. It is the
sound and
rhythms that
create a mood
in every scene
in the drama
9. The
protagonist and
antagonist of
the play.
10. It is about
how actors give
life to the
characters on a
script.
Do you think drama is
beneficial to a student like
you?
DRAMA

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Builds confidence.
Helps develop language and communication skills.
Encourages students to cooperate.
Develops emotional intelligence.
Assists physical development
Develops creativity
Nurtures friendship
What do you think is the
significance of drama in our
society?
Drama imitates the life of the people,
their history, beliefs, and traditions
and it functions as a mirror through
which an individual or the general
public see what happens in the
society.
Answer the following questions:
1.
If your life will be a drama or play, what would be the
title and why?
2.
3.
Think of a character that you want to portray.
Explain why you chose her/him?
What is the important lesson that your audience
want you to learn from your story? Justify your
answer.
ASSIGNMENT
Look for a drama presentation or you can also write
your own script for your drama presentation.
Discuss it with your classmates.
Thank you!!
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