Theatre

Definition

Interestingly few of the standard “companions” or “dictionaries” to the theatre actually provide a definition for this the word Theatre (Teater in Afrikaans)or its companion, Drama. It appears to be accepted that everyone knows what is meant by it. Or at least knows and accepts the usual dictionary explantations of it. (“1: Open air edifice … for viewing of dramas or other spectacles” , 2: building for dramatic spectacles, playhouse.. , 3: Dramatic literature or art”). Perhaps another reason is the difficulty of pinning it down, for general use of the term to indicate some kind of performance venue or performance form in a specific kind of venue, utilizing performers, seems to display enormous regional differences in context and conventions – particularly in non-European contexts. (For example, see South African Theatre ) Today however, the word theatre, in contrast to drama, tends to be used as a broad, non-specific term (eg. as it is used in the title to and body of this work), and refers to the entire cultural activity (everyone and everything involved in all the theatrical events – i.e. live stage performances done before audiences in order to amuse, instruct or as part of a ritual event). Thus “South African theatre” (see above) refers to all theatrical events or performances taking place in South Africa – formal, informal, traditional, African, European, musical, tragic comic, etc., and all aspects of it: management, artistic, technical and receptive processes and participants. (It is therefore inclusive of “drama” and “performance”). Similarly “British theatre” would to all such performances and events done in Britain, etc. It is however one of the (many) quirks of the English language also traditionally used in a more specific sense, to to refer to the building or space in which performances take place (as in The Market Theatre). Inevitably it is used in this way here as well, where the preferred term (venue) is inadequate or misleading or it appears in the name of a venue (the Market Theatre, the State Theatre).

See also Drama, Performance, Play, Production, Theatrical Event.

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