A Brief History of Theatre Architecture Stage Technology

A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (1650 -1900 Theatre: Almost Modern!) • THE INTEREST IN SPECTACLE AND VISUAL EFFECTS MOVED RAPIDLY ACROSS EUROPE DURING THE NEXT 100 YEARS. • BY 1660, THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE OF THEATRE BUILDINGS AND TYPES OF SCENERY USED WERE FAIRLY STANDARDIZED. • THEATRES WERE PRIMARILY RECTANGULAR WITH THE STAGE AT ONE END • THE RAKED STAGE WAS FRAMED BY THE PROSCENIUM ARCH 1 • THE FLAT APRON WAS THRUST TOWARD THE AUDIENCE The national theatre in Prague. Image: https: //pragueorbust. files. wordpress. com/2012/05/prague 67. jpg

A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (1650 -1900 Theatre: Almost Modern!) • SCENERY WAS MORE ELABORATE, BUT STILL FOLLOWED THE TRADITION OF PROVIDING A VISUAL BACKGROUND • PERSPECTIVE SCENERY WAS PAINTED ON MOVABLE DROPS AND BORDER CURTAINS • THE RAKED STAGE PROVIDED AN ADDED SENSE OF DEPTH • ACTORS GENERALLY ENTERED THROUGH DOORS ON THE FLAT AREA, BECAUSE IF THEY ENTERED ON THE RAKED STAGE IT DETRACTED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE • MOST PLAYS TOOK PLACE IN A GENERAL LOCATION, SO STOCK SETS WERE STILL USED 2 • IF THEATRE DIDN’T HAVE A CERTAIN SET, A Forced perspective was achieved with both painted scenery and a raked stage. Image: https: //s-media-cacheak 0. pinimg. com/736 x/0 a/71/94/0 a 719415866754 e 32406900 bfe 6 b 7 b 2 c. jpg

A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (1650 -1900 Theatre: Almost Modern!) • AUDITORIUMS IN THEATRES FOLLOWED A TRADITIONAL ARRANGEMENT • MULTI-TIERED BOXES FOR DIGNITARIES & NOBLES • GALLERIES FOR THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD IT • THE PIT FOR LOWER-CLASS/NOT-WEALTHY PEOPLE • PROSCENIUM THEATRES DURING THIS PERIOD ARE NEARLY THE SAME AS MODERN ONES. • FLAT STAGES CAME TO BE USED MORE TOWARD THE LATE 19 TH CENTURY • STAGE MACHINERY ADVANCEMENTS CAME FROM JAPANESE KABUKI THEATRE. • AT FIRST, IT WAS PERFORMED OUTDOORS 3 • WHEN IT MOVED INDOORS, TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED QUICKLY! The Uchiko-za Kabuki Theatre in Japan. Notice the different seating style! Image: http: //japantravelmate. com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/06 -Uchiko-za_Kabuki. jpg

A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (1650 -1900 Theatre: Almost Modern!) • ELEVATOR TRAPS WERE INTRODUCED IN 1736 • A SMALL ELEVATOR USED TO SHIFT SMALL PIECES OF SCENERY (OR AN ACTOR) FROM THE BASEMENT UNDERNEATH THE STAGE OR VICE VERSA. USUALLY 4’X 4’ OR 4’X 6’. • ELEVATOR STAGES WERE DEVELOPED IN 1753 • A LARGE ELEVATOR USED TO SHIFT LARGE SCENIC ELEMENTS OR WHOLE SETS BETWEEN THE AREA BENEATH THE STAGE AND THE STAGE • REVOLVING STAGES WERE USED STARTING IN 1758 • A LARGE, CIRCULAR DISK THAT PIVOTS ON ITS CENTRAL AXIS. BUILT INTO THE STAGE FLOOR AS PERMANENT EQUIPMENT. • CONCENTRIC REVOLVING STAGES WERE INTRODUCED IN 1827 4 • A REVOLVING STAGE WITH, USUALLY, TWO SECTIONS, A view underneath the rotating stage at the Keho Theatre in Iizuka, Fukuoka, Kyushuu, Japan. Image: http: //www. japanvisitor. com/images/content_images/keho-gekijo-2. jpg

A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (1650 -1900 Theatre: Almost Modern!) • LIGHTING DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DEVELOP UNTIL THE 1780’S. • CANDLES AND OIL LAMPS WERE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF LIGHT • THEY WERE PLACED IN LOCATIONS AWAY FROM THE AUDIENCE’S VIEW (EXCEPT FOR CHANDELIERS) • IN 1783 THE ARGAND OIL LAMP WAS INVENTED • IT PRODUCED BRIGHTER, WHITER, AND CLEANER LIGHT • IN 1792 TECHNOLOGY TO DISTILL GAS FROM COAL DEVELOPED, WHICH INITIATED GAS LIGHTING IN THEATRE 5 The Argand oil lamp. Image: http: //media. gettyimages. com/photos/replica-of-oil-lamp-invented-in 1784 -by-aime-argand-pictureid 85009502? k=6&m=85009502&s=170667 a&w=0&h=em. Xm. Hjg. D 0 UJdk 3 Uy 84 KCnbql_vf. Zd 7 Rmx. SIZTk. ROk. M=