Theatre

Theatre is an art form in which a series of events, usually a written play, is acted out by performers who impersonate the characters. It generally takes place in an auditorium before an audience. The word «theatre», comes from the Greek word « theatron», meaning «a place for seeing». Theatre is usually regarded as a part of human culture that began in primitive times. In the earliest theatrical performances, the dramatist performed all artistic functions, including acting.

The theatre is perhaps the most complex of the arts because it requires so many kinds of artists for its creation. These specialists include the playwright, performers, director, scene designer, costumer, and lighting designer. For many productions, musicians and a choreographer are needed. In the modern theatre, the director is responsible for the artistic effectiveness of the production. He analyzes the play and determines the interpretation. The director must understand each character as it functions in the play and what is demanded of the performer who will play the role. Directors seek performers who are suit­ ed to their roles. Performers are among the few artists who cannot separate their means of expression from themselves. Often it is difficult to separate talent and creativity from the performer's personality. But acting is an art, and, as with any art, natural ability, study, and practice are essential.

No matter how well trained performers are, they cannot use their skills effectively without some consistent working method. Performers try as many approaches to acting as possible, and choose the one they consider to be the most successful. There are two systems of acting, two extremes: mechanical -external and psychological - internal. Supporters of the external system argue that emotion may interfere with good acting. Supporters of the internal system claim that only through feeling performers can project themselves into a character and situation. This system is sometimes called the Stanislavski method, for the Russian director Konstantin Stanislavski.

Nearly all major cities have theatres. The British government heavily supports the theatre. The Royal National Theatre, which was created in 1963, is one of the world's outstanding companies. Another famous theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, was created from the organization that produced the Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare Festival. Since 1960, it has divided its company between London and the Shakespeare Festival Theatre in Stratford.

Broadway in New York City is the best-known center of the professional theatre in the United States. But resident professional companies exist in many other U.S. cities. Many colleges and universities have theatre and drama departments. They produce plays as part of the education of their students. Almost all U.S. high schools have some kind of theatre production program.

Theatre in our country was generously supported by the state in the former Soviet Union. Today, many of Russia's theatres receive no direct subsidies from the government. They must support themselves from box-office receipts. The Moscow Art Theatre, founded in 1898, is perhaps the most respected company in Russia . It was founded by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko. Its production in 1898 of Chekhov's «The Sea Gull» started his career as a successful playwright. Moscow Art Theatre became one of the most influential theatres of today. It presents plays by the Russian authors Anton Chekhov, Maxim Gorki, and Leo Tolstoy. The Methood technique developed by Stanislavski has had great impact on world theatre. The Maly Theatre and the Mayakovsky Theatre are other leading companies. Two newer groups, the Sovremennik Theatre and the Taganka Drama and Comedy Theatre, have aroused much interest in Moscow. In St. Petersburg, the Pushkin Theatre ranks only slightly below the Moscow Art Theatre in reputation. The Gorky Theatre is also highly respected.

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