The
Nature of Theatre
Theatre
is an art with roots that extend deeply into the human experience.
In a time-honored tradition that stretches back to the first enacting
storytellers, theatrical expression has enriched religious rite,
enhanced the rituals that mark the passages of private and public
life, voiced the concerns of individuals and society, and explored
the frontiers of curiousity and creativity.
Theatre
is the empathetic examination of human experience by actors before
an audience. While it may take many shapes and serve many purposes,
theatre is a diciplined, collaborative activity that requires
the ability to think critically, to create imaginatively, to call
upon emotional resources, and to share verbally and non-verbally.
Those
involved in the creation of theatre are playwrights, actors, directors,
designers, technicians, and audiences-present in varying degrees
depending on the purpose, the nature, and the setting of the theatrical
enterprise,. Each ios influenced by cultural context, stylistic
evolution, and personal inspiration.
By
engaging both the intellect and the emotions through imitation
of human behavior, theatre results in an experience that is more
than the sum of its parts. Uniquely, theatre permits transcedence
of immediate reality and acknowledgement of kinship with the human
family across time and space.
~
William Shakespeare
