Greek theatre originates in ancient Greece’s religious and mythological traditions, specifically in worshipping Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and revelry. The annual festival, Dionysia, celebrated with choral hymns called dithyrambs, gave rise to formal theatrical performances. The City Dionysia festival in Athens formalised competitions…
This encyclopedia includes biographies of the world’s most influential theatre practitioners, directors, choreographers, actors, designers, acting and performance theorists, educators, and playwrights. From Euripides to Lin-Manuel Miranda, these are the people who changed the face of theatre. Theatre Practitioners
This encyclopedia includes entries for over 300 theatre styles and genres from a range of historical periods, cultures and traditions. From Expressionism to Eclectic Theatre, from Participatory Theatre to Performance Art, from Naturalism to the Nativity Play, it should prove useful for students, teachers, and…
Commedia dell’Arte (“comedy of the profession”) was a largely improvised form of drama that began in Italy in the mid-1500s. Performed mostly by small acting troupes of twelve or fewer, Commedia plays consisted of a set of stock characters who fell into one of three…
