Oriental theatre Presentation - Dramatics

•‘Southern’ Drama – Originated around Hangchow
•‘Northern’ Drama – Peking (Yuan Period)
•Peking Opera – The dominant Theatrical form of
China

Yuan dramatists drew their stories from history,
legend, novels, epics and contemporary events.
 Characters ranged through the entire spectrum of
humanity.
 Although important roles were those of emperors,
scholars or students, govt officials, generals, rebels,
wives, daughters, or concubines.


The plays advocated the virtues of:
 Loyalty to family and friends
 Honesty
 Devotion to work and duty



Most popular of Yuan dramas is Romance of the
Western Chamber by Wang Shih-fu.



From the southern Yuan dramas, best known is Lute
song, admired by founder of The Ming Dynasty.



His patronage increased the prestige of the
southern drama and helped to make it the
dominant style.



Southern drama must be admired for the resiliency
that permitted it to survive for some 500 years.



Even after 1853, its theatrical traditions and texts
were to influence its successor, the Peking Opera.



Peking Opera was primarily a theatrical rather than a
literary form.



It emphasized upon acting, dancing, and singing rather
than only text.



Instead of a single work, an evening’s program is usually
made up of a series of short pieces.



Many of them were acts or portions of longer works
(including traditional southern or northern plays),
intermingled with acrobatic displays.



There are no intermissions and scenes are arranged to
ensure that the best actors are saved for the final
episodes.



Earliest stages were probably porches of temples
(influence of temple stage still seen today).



Permanent properties on stage – chairs and table.



Simplicity allowed rapid change of place.



17th cy – Actors performed in tea houses, while customers
were seated at tables. (temporary)



Once permanent theatres emerged, they retained this
arrangement.



The theatre had different sections for different classes.



For eg. A balcony divided into sections, in some periods
used for the wealthy class and in others it was reserved
for women.



4 major forms of traditional Japanese
theatre:
› Noh

› Kabuki

› Kyogen

› Bunraku



First great Japanese Theatrical form which
blossomed in the late 14th Century.



First known as sarugaka – no



Zeami – Greatest Noh dramatist



Culminates in a Dance, and Dialogue and
Song preceed to outlined circumstances



Actors lines / Narration – Chorus

› Ordinary speech used to summarise between

parts



5 Types:
›
›
›
›
›

Kamimono (Plays praising Gods)
Shuramono (Plays about warriors)
Kajuramono (Plays about women)
Kuruimono (Mad persons or spirits)
Kirinomono (Demons, devils or other
supernatural beings)



No of Roles: Very small, all performers are
male



Costumes :
› Rich in colour and design, based on official

dress. Never gaudy
› Silk decorated with elaborate embroidery

 Kyōgen

- "mad words" or "wild speech”



Noh-kyōgen



Comical form

 Elements:

› Costumes

› Movements
› Music

(Japanese Puppet Theatre)


Known as Ningyo Shibai



Evolved during 17th century, reached height
of popularilty in 18th century.



Dolls constantly changing



The voice and the music



Classical Japanese dance-drama



Known for
› stylization of its drama
› elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers



History and Transition
› Female kabuki
› Transition to yarō-kabuki
› The Saruwaka-chō kabuki



Stage - Hanamichi










South East Asian theatre is allied to that of India
because its heritage of Hinduism, Hindu epics and
Buddhism.
South East Asian drama consists of folk drama,
operetta, spoken drama, pantomime, improvised
plays ,shadow puppet play, doll puppet plays and
Western-style of drama.
The most distinctive form of Asian drama is the
Shadow Play which is widely performed in
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand
It is also known as Wayang Kulit in Indonesia.
South East Asian theatre is indigenous in nature.








Between the 13th and 17th centuries the
Indonesian and Malaysian shadow puppets
involved in their present size.
Paintings were usually flat and not in 3-D.
The stage is enclosed by flats painted with
a distant view.
Many scenic pieces were used.
Women were allowed to participate in
Theatre after the end of Japan’s isolation







In the 1880s, the western style of drama was
introduced in Asia.
It reached its peak in 1904 and 1909, and then
rapidly declined.
An attempt to promote western drama began with
the formation of the Free Theatre Society with
staged plays by Shakespeare and other famous
playwrights.
However, despite all trends towards westernization,
the traditional forms of Asian theatre such as Noh (
doll theatre) and Kabuki are most popular in Japan
and abroad.

Every oriental country has its own
dramatic traditions, often quite diverse
and highly developed.
 Korea’s theatrical forms are related to
Chinese and Japanese modes.
 They had their own distinct
characteristics.
 Ritualistic performances in Korea can be
even older.


 Eventually

Korea produced various
types of dance-drama, puppet shows
and after 1908, a western-style drama.

 One

of the most interesting of Korea's
theatrical use of many different kind
of stories.

 The

variations are numerous indeed.

All dramas are performed on open stage
for the drama play.
 Music continues all night in the lights of
flickering tourches


a)Puppet (Muslims)
 b)traditional dance (temple dancers)15th
century


Oriental theatre Presentation - Dramatics

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