Notes: The Origins of Theatre

• Dance, Storytelling, Mimesis, Ritual and Games are probably the things that lead to Theatre.

Dance:

• Dance and movement where used as celebration and entertainment between a tribe and community. Dancing would be a way of expressing feelings and uniting a community.
• Dances where often synchronized.
• Dance and theatre are the same thing in many cultures.

Storytelling:

• Storytelling is a tradition, passing stories down by the word of mouth.
• Storytelling has basic components like intrudction, middle end, mood, setting, charactersi; all of these fit very well in theatre.
• The storyteller is an entretainer, teacher, leader, healer, historian. It is seen as somebody who brings news.
• Storyteller's in Africa have an specific position when performing and an specific custom.

Ritual;

• Ritual needs to be performed, just like theatre. They are performed in special places, like theatre.
  
• Rituals are used to keep order in communities.
• Rituals, just as Theatre, have an interest of real change.

Games

• They are seen as a form of entertainment with theatre.

Theatre starter becoming less religious. Commedia del Arte was the first one to make profit with theatre and was not religious.