Theatre as a Media Form

Definition of Theatre

"Theatre" word is come from Ancient Greek "théatron" which means "a place to viewing and "theáomai" which means "to see", "to watch", "to observe". So theatre can be defined as a place to provide a live performance to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place.

There are several types of theatre

1. Thrust Theatre

also known as open stage or platform stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its upstage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the audience than a proscenium, while retaining the utility of a backstage area.

http://shakespeare.about.com/od/Royal-Shakespeare-Company/ig/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre/Thrust-Stage.htm

2. Proscenium Stage

 A proscenium theatre is what we usually think of as a "theatre". It's primary feature, is the Proscenium, a "picture frame" placed around the front of the playing area of an end stage.

http://barnesrarte360.blogspot.com/2011/04/assignment-7-theatre.html

3. End Stage

A Thrust stage extended wall to wall, like a thrust stage with audience on just one side, the front.

"Backstage" is behind the background wall. There is no real wingspace to the sides, although there may be entrances there.  An example of a modern end is a music hall, where the background walls surround the playing space on three sides. Like a thrust stage, scenery primarily background.

http://blogs.swa-jkt.com/swa/10318/files/2012/03/new_endstage.jpg

4. Profile Theatre

 Often used in "found space" theatres, i.e. converted from other spaces.
The Audience is often placed on risers to either side of the playing space, with little or no audience on either end of the "stage". Actors are staged in profile to the audience. It is often the most workable option for long, narrow spaces. Scenically, is most like the arena stage; some background staging possible at ends, which are essentially sides. A non-theatrical form of the profile stage is the basketball arena, if no-one is seated behind the hoops.

http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2011/10/portlands_profile_theatre_and.html

5. Arena Theatre

A central stage surrounded by audience on all sides. The stage area is often raised to improve sightlines.

http://s3.grouponcdn.com/images/site_images/2475/3830/IMAGE_Arena-Theatre-GEORGE-JONES-TEMPTAT_grid_6.jpg

In my opinion theatre is a dynamic media form because it constantly changing to include current issues from history, politics, life, and many more. From theatre we can get the message that they delivered by the visual and aural ways such as, from the speech, gesture, song, music, and dance that have given by the performers by the help of its characterization, design, and technology. The performers also provide a window into the human condition, which means they give a performance that take a places and situation in the present, but it can be connected the audiences to other places and times. The study of theatre also embraces the messages from different subjects that refers to such as history, politics, and psychology. It can be the imitation or representation of life, performed for other people, the performance of dramatic literature, drama, the milieu of actors and playwrights, the place that is setting for dramatic performance.