History of Theater

I want to study History of Theater (Drama), I have this book, A Short History of the Drama, Martha Fletcher Bellinger Do you have any other suggestions. I want the books to cover the history of theater from Ancient Times up to the present time.

The content of most such books would be the same, so suggest you have one that has lots of pictures and a pleasant tone to the reading.

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Originally Posted by byquist

The content of most such books would be the same, so suggest you have one that has lots of pictures and a pleasant tone to the reading.

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Thank you for the suggestion.

My two main preferences are:

A History of the Theatre - Glynne Wickham


The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre (unabridged)


Both cover the history of theatre from ancient to modern times. So you could always take a look at those and see what you think of them. :)

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Originally Posted by LadyWentworth

My two main preferences are:

A History of the Theatre - Glynne Wickham


The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre (unabridged)


Both cover the history of theatre from ancient to modern times. So you could always take a look at those and see what you think of them. :)

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Thank you millionsssssssssssss! I hope I find these books. :yawnb:

I would suggest that alongside these books you have someone who has a good grasp of the history of theater to discuss with you.

As the history of theater is a part of our syllabus for first year (high school), we had to study it, but we weren't really given books. Instead we had reports and our mentor discussed it with us, which is generally why I would suggest such. :)

Once you have completed the overview of theatre history, it would repay the effort to select and further study one period that seems interesting, especially reading period plays, author and actor's biographies, and academic discussions of the changes the theatre underwent. Remember, too, that plays are meant to be performed before an audience; consequently, some understanding of the social, economic, and cultural conditions of the time is useful.
Regards,
John

You might also want to check this one:

Theatre Histories: An Introduction by Phillip B. Zarrilli. It expands from the Ancient Era, starting from oral tradition with the Greek, Roman, and Eastern epics, continues all the way to the 21st century, and provides a detailed analysis on the development of Theatre through the centuries.

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Originally Posted by amanda_isabel

I would suggest that alongside these books you have someone who has a good grasp of the history of theater to discuss with you.

As the history of theater is a part of our syllabus for first year (high school), we had to study it, but we weren't really given books. Instead we had reports and our mentor discussed it with us, which is generally why I would suggest such. :)

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You are right, besides reading by onself, discussion is the best way to study. I wished there were someone, but now there is no one who has a good grasp of the hsitory of theater.

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Originally Posted by jgweed

Once you have completed the overview of theatre history, it would repay the effort to select and further study one period that seems interesting, especially reading period plays, author and actor's biographies, and academic discussions of the changes the theatre underwent. Remember, too, that plays are meant to be performed before an audience; consequently, some understanding of the social, economic, and cultural conditions of the time is useful.
Regards,
John

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Oh thank you. What is your idea if I read the authors and plays as I read the history, or it is better I complete the history and then going to these detailed studies?

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Originally Posted by amalia1985

You might also want to check this one:

Theatre Histories: An Introduction by Phillip B. Zarrilli. It expands from the Ancient Era, starting from oral tradition with the Greek, Roman, and Eastern epics, continues all the way to the 21st century, and provides a detailed analysis on the development of Theatre through the centuries.

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Thank you very much. IT is good that it covers the history of theater up to the present time. I wil check this one if I find the book.

How you approach theatre history really seems to depend on how much historical and theatrical background you have. Completing a survey of theatre history gives one a historical path and helps one understand the development of theatre from Greek goat-plays to Manhattan's Broadway, with many interesting stops along the way.

I always advocate reading the original text concurrently with the ancillary literature once one gets a "feel" for the subject at hand, at least in my own fields of history and philosophy.

The text adds life to the secondary works, and the secondary works help one understand the primary. In Elizabethan theatre, for example, knowing something about the conditions of performance can help one understand some of the aspects of a Shakespearean play---how was "the Trojan's trumpet" actually spoken became the Trojan strumpet" for example, as can the practice of using young boys to play the female parts give one a added perspective when reading Juliet's lines.
*****
One can---and should---to use an entirely different example, listen to Beethoven as absolute music; but if one is trying to understand the transition from classic to romantic composing, or the development of the sonata form through time, one listens THEN from a different perspective.
Cheers,
John