SAN JOSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
San Jose, Malilipot, Albay
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education
Lesson Material No. 13
Theater Aesthetics in Performance
I. Core Competency: Analyze how aesthetics shape traditional drama.
II. Lesson Objectives
➢ Analyze and explain how different theatrical aesthetics—such as mise-en-scène,
spectacle, gesture, costume, and sound—shape meaning, atmosphere, and
cultural identity in traditional drama.
➢ Demonstrate appreciation for theater as a cultural expression by valuing how
traditional drama embodies communal beliefs, rituals, and social realities
through its use of artistic elements.
➢ Apply theatrical aesthetics in a short performance activity by using appropriate
gestures, voice delivery, costumes, or props to creatively interpret a scene from
a traditional play.
III. Discussion
Theater aesthetics refers to the artistic principles, techniques, and elements that shape the
overall look, feel, and meaning of a dramatic performance. They determine how the script is translated
into a living art form and how audiences experience the play. In traditional drama—whether Philippine
or non-Philippine—these aesthetics combine visual, auditory, and performative elements to create
atmosphere, establish character, and communicate themes. By analyzing aesthetics, students understand
that drama is not only about words but also about how performance elements embody cultural values,
rituals, and social realities.
1. Mise-en-Scène
Mise-en-scène, which literally means “placing on stage,” encompasses the total visual
arrangement of everything seen in a performance, including actors, sets, lighting, props, and
movement. It is the foundation of theater aesthetics because it organizes how the audience
perceives meaning. For instance, in the Philippine komedya, monarchs are positioned at the
center of the stage, symbolizing power, order, and divine authority. Similarly, in Greek tragedy,
the symmetrical arrangement of choruses conveys unity, ritual solemnity, and the collective
voice of the community. Through mise-en-scène, drama establishes not only what is seen but
also how cultural values are embedded in spatial organization.
2. Spectacle
Spectacle refers to the striking imagery and visual grandeur that captivate audiences
through costumes, scenery, choreography, and effects. It provides sensory engagement while
simultaneously reinforcing themes and symbols. In the moro-moro, elaborate crowns, swords,
and costumes do more than impress—they embody religious and cultural battles between
Christians and Muslims. In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, magical stage illusions extend the
narrative of wonder and the conflict between enchantment and reality. Thus, spectacle is both
entertainment and a cultural symbol, reminding audiences that appearances onstage carry
deeper ideological meanings.
3. Gesture
Gesture includes body movements, facial expressions, and physical signals that
communicate a character’s emotions, intentions, and social role. Beyond communication,
gesture often carries ritualistic or symbolic weight in traditional drama. In Japanese Noh
theater, a single slow and deliberate hand motion can signify grief, reverence, or transcendence,
showing how physicality communicates spiritual depth. Meanwhile, the Philippine zarzuela
uses exaggerated comedic gestures to emphasize satire and humor, ensuring messages are clear
even to audiences less familiar with refined dialogue. Gestures, therefore, become a universal
language of the stage.
4. Costume
Costumes define characters, social standing, and symbolic roles, while also creating
visual authenticity or allegory. In Philippine senakulo, Roman soldiers clad in metallic
breastplates embody the power and cruelty of empire, reminding audiences of the Passion’s
brutality. Conversely, in Greek tragedy, masks and flowing robes elevate characters into
archetypal representations of human fate, making their stories universal. Costumes transform
actors into embodiments of cultural roles, linking visual style with the symbolic dimension of
drama.
5. Music and Sound
Music and sound are powerful aesthetic tools that establish mood, mark dramatic
transitions, and intensify emotion. They can be live, recorded, instrumental, or vocal. In
Mindanao rituals, the kulintangan ensemble enhances the epic grandeur of dramatizations like
Indarapatra at Sulayman, immersing audiences in the story’s heroic tone. In Oedipus Rex, the
chorus’s rhythmic chanting creates a spiritual and solemn atmosphere, reinforcing the
inevitability of fate. Sound in drama is not mere background—it amplifies meaning, shaping
the audience’s emotional and intellectual response.
6. Dialogue and Language Style
Language is the lifeblood of drama, shaping how ideas and emotions are articulated.
Dialogue style may be realistic, poetic, symbolic, or rhetorical, depending on the play’s cultural
context. In Alberto Florentino’s The World Is an Apple, simple, natural dialogue reflects
poverty, morality, and the struggles of everyday Filipinos. In contrast, Shakespearean drama
employs iambic pentameter, elevating speech into a poetic rhythm that signals nobility, fate,
and universality. Language style thus becomes a mirror of culture, class, and ideology, affecting
how audiences interpret the story.
7. Rhythm and Movement (Blocking/Choreography)
Rhythm and movement include the physical arrangement of actors (blocking) and
choreographed patterns of action that control the pacing and flow of performance. Traditional
plays often integrate cultural dances, making movement both aesthetic and symbolic. For
instance, the subli integrated in folk theater dramatizes religious devotion through repetitive,
rhythmic dance patterns. In Greek tragedy, the chorus’s synchronized steps create ritualistic
energy and reinforce collective identity. Through blocking and choreography, directors shape
visual storytelling, guiding audiences to feel the tempo of both emotion and action.
8. Lighting
Lighting is central to shaping atmosphere, focusing attention, and highlighting dramatic
tension. Its use ranges from natural fire or sunlight in traditional open-air plays to sophisticated
modern spotlights. In modern senakulo, light focuses on Christ at moments of sacrifice,
elevating his spiritual role. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, dim lighting during the ghost’s
appearance heightens fear and mystery, symbolizing the blurring of life and death. Lighting is
thus both practical and symbolic, shaping how audiences emotionally and visually interpret the
drama.
9. Props and Symbolic Objects
Props are objects used by actors that often carry symbolic or thematic weight. Far from
being neutral items, they can define central conflicts or values in a play. In The World Is an
Apple, the apple itself represents temptation, survival, and the moral dilemmas of poverty. In
Sophocles’ Antigone, the burial cloth embodies familial love, rebellion, and religious duty.
Props function as focal points of meaning, condensing complex themes into tangible, visual
signs for the audience.
10. Space and Audience Relationship
The relationship between stage space and audience arrangement significantly
influences how drama is experienced. Traditional plays often blur boundaries, making
audiences part of the performance. In pasyon-based senakulo, actors sometimes move among
the crowd, immersing spectators in Christ’s journey and intensifying communal devotion. In
the Elizabethan Globe Theatre, the close proximity between actors and groundlings encouraged
direct interaction and collective participation. Thus, stage-audience dynamics transform theater
from a passive experience into a shared cultural event.
11. Actor’s Voice and Delivery
The voice is a vital instrument of performance, shaping how dialogue and emotion
reach the audience. Tone, pitch, volume, pacing, and rhythm determine whether speech
conveys authority, humor, or vulnerability. In komedya, actors often use a bombastic,
declamatory delivery to emphasize grandeur and dramatic conflict, aligning with its epic
themes. Meanwhile, in Greek tragedy, choral odes are chanted rhythmically, expressing
collective moral judgment and spiritual gravity. The actor’s voice is thus not only a carrier of
words but also a sculptor of atmosphere and meaning.
Why These Aesthetics Matter in Traditional Drama
These elements demonstrate that theater is not simply storytelling through dialogue but
a multidimensional art form combining sound, sight, movement, and symbolism. Traditional
drama served as both ritual and entertainment, reflecting cultural values, communal beliefs,
and social struggles. A Philippine senakulo, with its elaborate costumes, devotional chants, and
audience interaction, reflects religiosity and community identity. A Greek tragedy, with its
masks, choruses, and symbolic gestures, reveals a culture rooted in ritual, fate, and moral
reflection. By studying these aesthetics, learners see how drama transforms text into lived
cultural experience, preserving identity while shaping collective meaning.
