Overview – Asian
geography, culture
India
1 billion people
1/3 the size of the US with
over 3 times the population
18 official languages
caste system
Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism & Sikhism
Indonesia
Malay Archipelago: 13,600
islands
Mountainous and volcanic
240 million people
300 ethnic groups
250 languages
Religions:
Buddhism, Islam & Hinduism
China
Over 1.3 billion people
The size of the U.S., with
4 times the population
93% Han Chinese
55 ethnic minorities
Languages:
Mandarin, Cantonese, 100’s of minority languages & dialects
Universal written language
Japan
128 million people
Archipelago - 4 major
islands
Ethnically &
linguistically pure
Mountainous and volcanic
Primary religions: Buddhism and Shintoism
Oceania
Melanesia
Micronesia
Polynesia
20 Pacific island nations
not within the scope of this class
Theatrical Expression in
Asian Cultures
Traditional Performance
Types
Elite
Court Performances
Folk
Theatre
Commercial
Theatre
Elite
Western Style Drama
Relationship of Religion
and Performance
Early Development
Explored
mankind’s relationship to the gods
Served
or honored the gods
Requested
good health or good harvest
Invited the spirits of the sacred world into the temporary world of mankind
Later
Development
Dramatized
religious beliefs
Taught
religious doctrine
Chronicled
epic religious myths, legends and stories
Depicted
gods, spirits and demons
Performer Training
The
Performer is Central
Stores
& maintains performance information
Is
the keeper of the tradition
Sometimes
improvises significantly during performances
Works
within a self-directing ensemble of performers
(often
no director in the western sense)
Training
Includes
Mastery
of 100’s of movements, songs & stories
Years
of study from childhood
Formalized
master-pupil relationship
Training
within theatrical families for generations
After
Fundamental Training
The performer learns to enact roles
Specializes in typical character types:
Young male hero
Older male authority figure
Young woman
Old woman
Villain
Clown
Demon
Blending or fusion of
elements
Dance
Drama
Song
Storytelling
Human actors
Masked performers
Puppets
Asian
Theatre Influences Western Theatre Artists
Bertolt
Brecht – Chinese opera – acting techniques / conscious theatricality /
episodic play structure
Antoin
Artaud – Theatre of Cruelty – Balinese Barong trance / kris ceremonies
Jean
Genet – Chinese Opera – ritual & ceremony / stylized movement / starkly
simple theatrical space / visually excessive costumes & makeup
