History of Theatre - Amara

First Nations Ceremony and Corroboree

45,000 BCE

Corroborees and ceremonial dances, integral to Aboriginal spiritual and social life, have ancient roots tied to the Dreamtime. These practices:
1. Preserving oral history
2. Educating youth
3. Marking life events
4. Performing rituals
5. Connecting with land and ancestors
Conventions: Often take place in consecrated outdoor spaces, Involve mime, music, dance and song, Some ceremonies are gender specific or have age restrictions, Traditional instruments such as didgeridoos, clap sticks

Greek Theatre

600 BCE

Greek theatre began in Athens in the 6th century BCE, evolving from religious festivals for Dionysus. It grew from dithyrambs, hymns honoring the god. Key playwrights include Aeschylus: "Father of Tragedy," added a second actor. Sophocles: Wrote tragedies.
Euripides: Known for realism and psychology. Aristophanes: Satirized Athenian society. Conventions: masked actors, 2–3 on stage, large choruses, outdoor amphitheatres. Tragedies explored myths/religion, while comedies satirized society.

Roman Theatre

364 BCE

Roman theatre spanned the Roman Republic and early Empire, beginning as religious ceremonies (Lectisterniums). These evolved into performances with scripts, music, and choreography. Key playwrights: Plautus: 130 comedic plays
Terence: 6 comedies
Seneca: Influential tragedian
Conventions: outdoor amphitheatres, male casts, masks, elaborate backdrops, and expanded Greek five-act structures. Focused on spectacle, societal commentary, and political propaganda.

Medieval plays

801

Medieval theatre began with liturgical dramas in churches, evolving into outdoor performances by the 13th century. By the 14th–15th centuries, mystery, miracle, and morality plays were popular, often staged by trade guilds. Key figures: Hrotsvitha (first medieval dramatist), Hildegard of Bingen, Henry Medwall. Performed in Latin, with clergy as actors initially. Themes: biblical stories, moral lessons, and civic engagement through mystery cycles.

Commedia Dell'Arte

1540

Commedia dell'arte (mid-16th to late 18th century) originated in Italy and peaked in the 1650s, with the first company forming in Padua in 1545. Influenced by Greek and Roman theatre, it spread across Europe, gaining fame in royal courts, especially in France. Key figures: Angelo Beolco, Flaminio Scala, Carlo Goldoni. Features: stock characters, masks, physical comedy, satire of society, universal themes, and humor-focused performances.

Melodrama

1770

Melodrama (late 18th–early 20th century) originated in France, blending music and drama as a middle ground between plays and opera. Key playwrights: August von Kotzebue, Rene Charles Guilbert de Pixerecourt, Douglas Jerrold, and Dion Boucicault. Features: stock characters, exaggerated emotions, moralistic plots (good vs evil), and music to heighten emotions. Themes: moral lessons, justice, unrequited love, and humor.

Realism

1870

Realism (1870–1960) aimed to depict real-life events and ordinary people’s struggles, influenced by literary realism, the Industrial Revolution, and social unrest. Key playwrights: Henrik Ibsen (father of realism), Anton Chekhov, August Strindberg, George Bernard Shaw, Tennessee Williams. Features: realistic plots, believable characters, everyday speech, detailed settings, and psychological acting. Themes: social issues, class struggles, and relatable challenges.