Difference between revisions of "Thespis"
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| − | The name of the supposed founder of modern day theatre, is found BOTH as the name of a '''theatre and debating society''' in Paarl and as the pseudonym used by a | + | The name of the supposed founder of modern day theatre, is found BOTH as the name of a '''theatre and debating society''' in Paarl and as the pseudonym used by a number of '''[[Criticism|theatre critic]]s''' |
= The original [[Thespis]]= | = The original [[Thespis]]= | ||
| − | [[Thespis]] ([[Θέσπις]] in Greek, fl. 6th century BC)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thespis#:~:text=Thespis%20(%2F%CB%88%CE%B8%C9%9Bs,instead%20of%20speaking%20as%20themself)] was a singer of dithyrambs and a playwright from Icaria who is reputed to have been the founder of theatre as we know it, when he introduced the first principal actor in addition to the chorus in his performances. | + | [[Thespis]] ([[Θέσπις]] in the original Greek, fl. 6th century BC)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thespis#:~:text=Thespis%20(%2F%CB%88%CE%B8%C9%9Bs,instead%20of%20speaking%20as%20themself)] was a singer of dithyrambs and a playwright from Icaria who is reputed (notably by [[Aristotle]]) to have been the founder of theatre as we know it, when he introduced the first principal actor in addition to the chorus in his performances. Other sources argue that he was the one to introduce a new style in which one singer or actor performed the words of individual characters in the stories, distinguishing between the characters with the aid of different masks. What '''is''' documented is that [[Thespis]] was the winner in the first documented [[Dionysia]] ([[festival]] of [[tragedy]]) to be held in ancient Athens in 534 BC.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysia]. |
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| − | The first [[Dutch]] language "[[Rederijkerskamers|Rederijkerskamer]]" or theatre and debating society in South Africa, established in the Paarl | + | The first [[Dutch]] language "[[Rederijkerskamers|Rederijkerskamer]]" or theatre and debating society in South Africa, established in the Paarl, was named [[Thespis]], being mentioned for the first time in a poem by [[J. Suasso de Lima]] entitled "''De Paarl en 'Thespis' Rederijkers''", dated 6 July 1858. |
[TH, JH] | [TH, JH] | ||
| − | = | + | ="[[Thespis]]": The theatre critic= |
| − | "[[Thespis]]" in | + | "[[Thespis]]" was taken as a pseudonym by a number of theatre critics, internationally and in South Africa, over the years. |
| − | |||
| − | + | South African instances include: | |
| − | [[ | + | In the 1850s someone wrote under this name in Cape Town for ''[[The Monitor]]'' (e.g. on 14 July 1852). |
| + | In the 1940s-1950s a critic for the ''[[Helikon]]'' also wrote under this name. See for example the reviews of ''[[Much Ado about Nothing]]'' (''[[Helikon]]'' 1(2):13-14) and ''[[Deep are the Roots]]'' (''[[Helikon]]'', 1(2):114-15). | ||
| − | + | = Sources = | |
| − | + | "[[Thespis]]" in ''[[Wikipedia]]''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thespis#:~:text=Thespis%20(%2F%CB%88%CE%B8%C9%9Bs,instead%20of%20speaking%20as%20themself)]. | |
| − | + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysia | |
| − | + | [[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1928: pp. 402-3; | |
| − | + | [[Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge]]. 1969. ''Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950)''. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. | |
| − | |||
| + | [[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.) | ||
| − | + | [[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp. | |
| − | [[ | + | [[P.J. du Toit]], 1988. ''Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika''. Pretoria: Academica |
| + | [[Jill Fletcher]]. 1994. ''The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930''. Cape Town: Vlaeberg. | ||
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
= Return to = | = Return to = | ||
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| + | Return to [[ESAT Personalities T]] | ||
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] | ||
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| + | Return to [[ESAT Venues T]] | ||
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]] | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]] | ||
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Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
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| + | = Return to = | ||
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| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
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| + | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
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| + | "[[Thespis]]" in ''[[Wikipedia]]''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thespis#:~:text=Thespis%20(%2F%CB%88%CE%B8%C9%9Bs,instead%20of%20speaking%20as%20themself)]. | ||
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| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysia | ||
Revision as of 08:02, 20 March 2021
The name of the supposed founder of modern day theatre, is found BOTH as the name of a theatre and debating society in Paarl and as the pseudonym used by a number of theatre critics
Contents
The original Thespis
Thespis (Θέσπις in the original Greek, fl. 6th century BC)[1] was a singer of dithyrambs and a playwright from Icaria who is reputed (notably by Aristotle) to have been the founder of theatre as we know it, when he introduced the first principal actor in addition to the chorus in his performances. Other sources argue that he was the one to introduce a new style in which one singer or actor performed the words of individual characters in the stories, distinguishing between the characters with the aid of different masks. What is documented is that Thespis was the winner in the first documented Dionysia (festival of tragedy) to be held in ancient Athens in 534 BC.[2].
Thespis has thus been used as the names of theatre companies, publications and critics over the subsequent centuries and the term thespian (for a performer or actor) also derives from his name.
Thespis: the theatre and debating society
The first Dutch language "Rederijkerskamer" or theatre and debating society in South Africa, established in the Paarl, was named Thespis, being mentioned for the first time in a poem by J. Suasso de Lima entitled "De Paarl en 'Thespis' Rederijkers", dated 6 July 1858.
[TH, JH]
"Thespis": The theatre critic
"Thespis" was taken as a pseudonym by a number of theatre critics, internationally and in South Africa, over the years.
South African instances include:
In the 1850s someone wrote under this name in Cape Town for The Monitor (e.g. on 14 July 1852).
In the 1940s-1950s a critic for the Helikon also wrote under this name. See for example the reviews of Much Ado about Nothing (Helikon 1(2):13-14) and Deep are the Roots (Helikon, 1(2):114-15).
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysia
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928: pp. 402-3; Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge. 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.
D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.
P.J. du Toit, 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica
Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities T
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to ESAT Venues T
Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
Return to
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
