DRAMA &

THEATER
SESSION 3
 WHAT IS DRAMA?
Drama comes from the Greek word meaning to do or to act. Drama is the
specific mode of fiction represented in performance.

Drama, in its essence, is a literary genre or performance art that tells a

story through action and dialogue, often involving conflict and emotional
intensity.
WHAT IS THEATER?
It is associated with drama. A building where plays and shows are
performed on stage.

Theater, or theatre, is a collaborative art form where live performers enact

a story for an audience.
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF
DRAMA
Ancient Drama Medieval Drama

Renaissance Drama

Drama of 17th, 18th, & 19th Modern Drama

Centuries
 Ancient
Drama
The origins of drama can be traced back to ancient Egyptian rituals
around 2000 B.C.E., which featured theatrical elements in ceremonies
devoted to Osiris. The formal classification of drama into tragedy and
comedy, however, emerged in ancient Greece during the 6th and 5th
centuries B.C.E., particularly in festivals dedicated to Dionysus, the
deity of wine and fertility. A pivotal development during this period
was the creation of the dithyramb—a choral ode performed in
Dionysian celebrations—which signified a major shift from purely
religious observances to a unique artistic genre. This innovation
marked the beginning of theatre as a culturally significant and
independent creative form. Amphitheatre at the site of the ancient city of Epidaurus, Greece
https://www.britannica.com/art/Western-theatre/Ancient-Greece
 Medieval Drama
Medieval theatre underwent a renewed
phase of evolution, echoing the transition
from ritual to structured performance seen
in ancient Greek theatre.

The Play of Abraham and Isaac at an English estate in 1482]

Medieval theatre underwent a renewed phase of evolution, echoing the transition from
ritual to structured performance seen in ancient Greek theatr.
 Mystery Plays
Rooted in biblical narratives, these
dramatized stories from Christian scripture.

Morality Plays
Allegorical in nature, characters personified abstract
concepts (e.g., Vice, Death, Virtue), often exploring
ethical dilemmas.

Secular drama
Focused on relatable, non-religious themes, portraying
everyday figures like merchants, scholars, or comedic
domestic conflicts (e.g., a clever wife outwitting her
aging husband).
 Renaissance
Drama

Emerging in England as the Elizabethan theatre between 1562 and

1642, this period marked a flourishing of early modern drama
throughout Europe. By the 1500s, various regions had developed
unique theatrical styles, merging elements of religious storytelling
with comedic farce. In Italy, amateur groups began performing
classical comedies on minimalist stages as early as the late 1400s.
By the end of the 16th century, Florentine productions introduced
intricate painted sets and smooth scene changes. By 1650, Italian
breakthroughs—like illusionary scenery and mechanized set pieces Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza, Italy by Andrea Palladio and completed by Vincenzo Scamozzi, 1585.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vincenzo-Scamozzi
—became the benchmark for European stagecraft, shaping
theatrical presentation for generations.
 th th,
Drama of 17 , 18 &
th
19 Centuries Drama
French drama emerged in the 17th century,
from its medieval and religious influences,
with the classical tragedies. In England, in
the middle of 18th century, the theater was
briefly revived by the comedy of manners. In
The Golden Fish, a Christmas pantomime produced at Covent Garden in 1811. Courtesy of

the 19th century, romantic drama flourished the Victoria and Albert Museum, Theatre Collection, London
The Play of Abraham and Isaac at an English estate in 1482]

throughout Europe. Medieval theatre underwent a renewed phase of evolution, echoing the transition from
ritual to structured performance seen in ancient Greek theatr.
 Modern Drama
Credit should be given to Henrik
Ibsen, a Norwegian dramatist, for the
development of modern drama.
Ibsen's influence on modern drama
was immense
Henrik Ibsen, 1870
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henrik-Ibsen
 https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/684687949571193689/

Ati-Atihan
It is a pagan ritual which has become an annual
The Modern Philippine drama was rejuvenated
affair that the natives look forward to with
upon the establishment of the Repertory
great expectation. It is the most extravagant
Philippines on June of 1967 which was founded
fiesta in the Philippines celebrated in Kalibo,
by Zenaida "Bibot" Amador and Baby Barreto.
Aklan every third Sunday of January in honor of
the Infant Jesus.
 Jpanase Drama

Izutsu, Sakurama Kinki Toshiro Morita MoriButoi Tokyo Exhibition Interior of a Kabuki theatre, colored woodcut triptych by
http://www.3331.jp/schedule/en/002/2014.html Utagawa Toyokuni, c. 1800; in the British Museum.
https://www.the-noh.com/en/world/
https://www.britannica.com/art/Kabuki

Noh Play Joruri Play Kabuki Drama

The oldest Japanese drama developed in the 1300s. It Most popular form of traditional Japanese drama.
A puppet drama. Founded in Osaka in 1864.
is shorter than Western plays and not dramatic Originated at the end of 16th century. It focuses on
performed by masked actors the visual aspects of theater, heavy make-up,
exaggerated acting, and special effects.
 Chinese Drama

Yun Pan Shi Yun Min Shi

The oldest form and it focuses on This is the modern play.
patriotism and filial devotion. Colloquial dialects are allowed
Music and action are meant to instead of Mandarin.
play on the audience’s emotion.

Sin Pan Shi

It presents civil and military
conditions. It differs from the
Yun Pan Shi in the manner of
singing certain roles and in the
acting.
 Basic Styles of Theater

Presentational Representational
02 Electric
Style Style Style

The actors are shameless in Combination of the two

Creates illusion on stage.
expressing their strong styles plus the influence from
feelings. naturalism, expressionism,
symbolism, surrealism, and
other “isms.”
 Elements of Theater
01. Performers 02. Audience
The inhabiting characters. The essence of a theater is the
interaction between the performers
Acting is the heart of all theater.
and audience.

03. Directors a. He analyzes the text.

The person who rehearses the b. He discovers the meaning & intention of the playwright.
performers. There are two kinds of c. He works with the actors & actresses, supervising
directors. Traditional director follows rehearsals & guiding their performances.
the playwright’s original intention. d. He selects an actor/actress for each role.
Virtuoso director projects his own e. He works closely with scene, costume, and lightning.
idea and intentions. Functions of f. He works on the over-all artistic quality of the production.
director are as follows:
Elements of Theater
04. Theater Space/Set 05. Designing Elements
It is a place where spectators Include costume, make-up, properties,
lightning and sounds.
either stand or sit.
a. Trim props. Any decorative objects which
hang upon/attached
06. Scene Design b. set props. Objects standing above the floor
Stage production. It helps set the tone and c. hand props. Objects picked and used by the
style of the production and establishes the performers
locale and period. d. prop visual effects. Snowstorm, fire, and
smoke e. prop sound effects. Any off-stage
sound
Elements of Theater
07. Costume Design 08. Sounds & Lights

It helps establish the tone and

style. It indicates the historical It helps create the mood and
period and the nature of style of the play
individual. There are four
elements of costume design:
line, color, fabric, and
accessories.
Thank
you!
GROUP 4