Mapeh

1. GLOBAL THEATRE TODAY
Chapter 13

2. GLOBAL THEATRE
1. Outside of the U.S., most cultures
have had a long, illustrious theatre history.
2. Beginning in 1900, Asian and other non-
European theatres were influenced by
developments of modern theatre in the West.
3. The development of global exchanges in
communication, in ideas, in commerce and in the arts
has led to a blurring of national theatres.

3. THEATRES OF
INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN
IN THE MODERN PERIOD
Traditional Theatre
India
kathakali
China
Beijing (Peking) opera
Japan
no and kabuki

4. THEATRES OF
INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN
IN THE MODERN PERIOD
Western Influence
in the early 20th Century
Asian traditional theatrical forms
began to weaken

5. THEATRES OF
INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN
IN THE MODERN PERIOD
After World War I
A politicization of Asian theatres
opposed Western influences and the colonial mentality. As
a result, in the past half century, there has been a unique
return to Asian traditional theatrical forms, rejecting
Western influences.

6. INDIA
After World War I
Cinema became extremely popular
featuring theatrical staging, lighting, costumes
and choreography referred to as
“Bollywood” films, combining “Hollywood” with
the Indian city of “Bombay” (now Mumbai).
This trend and the effects of World War II led to a decrease
in professional theatre in many parts of India.

7. INDIA
Latter Half of 20th Century
Calcutta has about 3,000 registered
amateur theatre groups, 500 in Mumbai and
50 in Madras keeping alive Indian playwrights.
A strain of experimental theatre led by playwrights such as Badal
Sircar reflect the experience of urban life in India.

8. CHINA
After China’s Civil War
and Mao Zedong’s rise to power
following World War II in 1949
Spoken drama continued to be written but
emphasis was given to traditional popular forms of
theatre used by the government to send propaganda
messages to the countryside and remote areas of the country.
Beginning in 1966, during the Cultural Revolution, spoken drama was more restricted
and dance-dramas were emphasized with their elaborate stage performances and
ideological propagandistic content.
Generally, theatre artists and intellectuals were considered subversive and suffered
greatly during this period of Chinese history.

9. CHINA
Since the death of Mao and
the opening up of China to the West
in the late 1970’s
A cross-fertilization between Chinese traditions and
Western drama emerged. For example, the U.S. American
playwright, Arthur Miller brought “Death of a Salesman”
to Beijing in 1983. Both Chinese and American playwrights
merged their cultures into the creation of new experimental plays.
A revival of traditional forms of Beijing (Peking) opera and other forms of classic
music-drama that were repressed during Mao’s reign, began to emerge.

10. CHINA
Since the death of Mao and
the opening up of China to the West
in the late 1970’s
In addition, some avant-garde
playwrights such as Ping
Chong have also merged
Chinese culture with new ideas
in puppet theatre productions.

11. JAPAN
Since World War II
Contemporary theatre thrived.
A noted playwright,
Kinoshita Junji, combined
social concerns, humor
and Japanese folk tradition to
write plays such as
“Twilight Crane”.

12. JAPAN
The 2nd Half of the 20th Century
3 branches of traditional Japanese theatre flourished:
1. no
2. bunraku
3. kabuki
-

13. JAPAN
shinkgeki (new theatre)
Modern Japanese Theatre
• Began in late 19th century
• More realistic than traditional Japanese theatre
• Influenced by western playwrights Ibsen and Chekhov
• Removed the Japanese gods and fantastics of traditional Japanese
theatre
After World War II
• Nonrealistic elements were admitted back into shinkgeki theatre
• The playwright is the central figure
• Female playwrights have been admitted in recent years where before
they were nonexistent.

14. JAPAN
Another Modern Japanese Theatre Style
Is the Avant-garde or Experimental Theatre
Takashi Suzuki

15. THEATRE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Shadow Puppets
of Turkey and Egypt

16. THEATRE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Although the Islamic religion has strong prohibitions
about theatre, there have always been traditional
storytelling, folklore and popular comedy throughout
the Middle East.
• Religious stories were brought to life with shadow puppets.
• Professional storytellers related tales of religious & historic events
often accompanied by musical instruments.
• In the 19th century, stage theatre became popular for conveying life in the Middle
East.
• Today theatre in the Arab world is greatly affected by the politics of the region.
• Israeli theatre has developed since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. It is
influenced by eastern European, Middle Eastern and Russian theatre. One large
national Israeli theatre is the Tel Aviv Municipal Theatre.

17. AFRICA
African Theatres and Drama
Early African societies used traditional
performances connected to rituals and
ceremonies that employed music, song
and dance.
Colorful, symbolic, exotic costumes
were a key element in many rituals
and ceremonies.

18. AFRICA
African Theatres
and Drama
Contemporary African theatre & society
are divided into English-speaking,
French-speaking; Portuguese-speaking;
& Arabic-speaking including the northern African
countries of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
In the early days, missionaries introduced
religious drama. Before independence in 1975, much of
the theatre was like vaudeville. After independence,
there was a greater focus on theatre that would arouse
social consciousness following the model of agitprop
drama.

19. RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPE
Before
• The theatre arts were financially supported by the
government but highly restrictive in content.
• Theatre was affordable to all, but it was highly
censored. This resulted in stifling, if not eliminating
altogether theatrical experimentation, creativity and
protest.
Theatre Before and After
the Fall of the Soviet Union in 1989-1991:
A Pivotal Point in History

20. RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPE
After
• New theatrical energy has emerged, but since the
government stopped their financial support to the arts
in the amount they did before, theatre has struggled
for financial support.
Theatre Before and After
the Fall of the Soviet Union in 1989-1991:
A Pivotal Point in History

21. RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPE
Leading contemporary Russian playwrights
such as Lyudmila Petrushevskaya write:
• Plays that expose the shadowy parts of life such as
extreme loneliness
• Joke plays often based on literary figures
• Plays exploring relationship problems
Two Theatrical Centers Still Remain in
Moscow and St. Petersburg

22. RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPE
Have long vibrant traditions of theatrical activity that rekindled
• Internationally influential pre-absurdist, experimental
playwrights and directors emerged
• During Nazi occupation, Tadeusz Kantor founded the
underground Independent Theatre and after the war formed his
own theatre, Cricot 2, and in the 1960’s became widely known
for staging happenings.
• Vaclav Havel challenged Communist and Soviet authorities and
as a result, was attacked and imprisoned. In 1989, when the
Czech Republic became a independent nation, Havel was elected
president.
Other countries formerly under Soviet domination
such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania

23. WESTERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND
Modern Theatre Divided into Three Categories
Classic Theatre
France – Comedie Francaise in Paris
Great Britain – The Royal Shakespeare Company &
the National Theatre
Modern Theatre
The late 19th century realistic plays of Ibsen,
Strindberg & Chekhov
Nonrealistic plays of expressionism, surrealism & absurdism
Avant-garde & Experimental Theatre
Produced by directors and acting ensembles

24. WESTERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND
Famous Playwrights, Directors & Theatre Companies
Germany
Peter Stein – Postmodernist who used techniques
of Brecht, Artaud and naturalism to rework classics
& later staged more traditional productions.
France
Peter Brook– A British director who founded a
theatre in Paris called the Centre for Theatre
Research. He wrote books on how to direct.
Italy
Dario Fo – Playwright, director and actor in some of his plays who
won the Nobel Prize for literature in1997 for his satirical, political
plays.

25. WESTERN EUROPE, BRITAIN & IRELAND
Famous Playwrights, Directors & Theatre Companies
England
Tom Stoppard – Writes dramas emphasizing
wordplay and intellectual concerns.
Postmodern Female Playwrights
Caryl Churchill – won numerous awards
including the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize
twice for her politically charged feminist plays.
Ireland
Martin McDonagh – Plays emphasize social, political & historical
issues.

26. LATIN AMERICAN THEATRES
In the 20th century,
developed on many fronts
side by side
Categories of drama
Realistic drama
Experimental drama
Radical sociopolitical drama
Popular forms of drama
Artists have responded to political & social turmoil in their societies
Economic, political & social problems
Periods of censorship & government repression

27. LATIN AMERICAN THEATRES
Beginning of the 20th century
Argentina & others
Comedies written that dealt
with the unique local customs
of each nation
Between the World Wars
Influenced by European styles
such as surrealism &
expressionism but often
touched on nationalistic issues

28. LATIN AMERICAN THEATRES
Beginning of the 20th century
Brazilian Playwright
Augusto Boal
Became internationally known
for his theoretical work
Theatre of the Oppressed (1975)
which became a manifesto for
revolutionary and socially conscious theatre

29. CANADA
AND AUSTRALIA
Before World War II
Developed commercially
Popular forms of entertainment
that also reflected national
identity

30. CANADA
AND AUSTRALIA
After World War II
Tyrone Guthrie
Theatre flourished with regional
theatres of Shakespeare, the classics,
musicals, contemporary & experimental
works.