The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies

Providing thorough coverage of the methods and tools required in studying historical and contemporary theatre, this introduction examines the complexities of a rapidly changing and dynamic discipline. Following a cross-cultural perspective, the book surveys the ways theatre and performance are studied by looking initially at key elements such as performers, spectators and space. The central focus is on methodology, which is divided into sections covering theatre theory, historiography and textual and performance analysis. The book covers all the main theatrical genres - drama, opera and dance - providing students with a comparative, integrated perspective. Designed to guide students through the academic dimension of the discipline, the volume emphasizes questions of methodology, research techniques and approaches, and will therefore be relevant for a wide variety of theatre studies courses. Informative textboxes provide background on key topics, and suggestions for further reading are included at the end of each chapter.

List of plates	p. viii
List of figures	p. ix
List of tables	p. x
Preface	p. xi
Introduction: theatre and theatre studies	p. 1
Integrated theatre studies	p. 3
From theatre studies to performance studies	p. 11
Outline	p. 12
Elements of Theatre
Performers and actors	p. 17
Theory and analysis	p. 18
Pedagogy of acting	p. 22
Cross-cultural perspectives	p. 28
Spectators and audiences	p. 34
Spectator response	p. 36
Reception and response	p. 38
Audiences	p. 42
Spaces and places	p. 47
Theatrical space	p. 49
Stage space	p. 54
The place of theatre	p. 58
Subjects and Methods
Theories of theatre 1: historical paradigms	p. 65
Mimesis	p. 67
Poiesis	p. 69
Catharsis	p. 72
Theories of theatre 2: systematic and critical approaches	p. 78
Semiotics	p. 78
Poststructuralism and psychoanalysis	p. 83
Phenomenology	p. 85
Cultural materialism	p. 87
Theatricality and performance theory	p. 89
Theatre historiography	p. 96
Sources and reconstruction	p. 97
Theatre iconography	p. 102
Periodization	p. 106
Contemporary approaches	p. 111
Summary and outlook	p. 116
Text and performance	p. 118
Status of the text	p. 119
From drama to theatrical text	p. 125
Play, production, performance	p. 127
Performance analysis	p. 132
Notation and documentation	p. 134
Tools of analysis	p. 136
Goal of analysis	p. 142
Methods and models	p. 143
Music theatre	p. 147
Elements	p. 147
Music dramaturgy	p. 149
Text and staging	p. 152
Analysis: La Boheme and Ariodante	p. 152
Dance theatre	p. 161
Elements	p. 161
Movement analysis: notation, semiotics and ideology	p. 163
Analysis: Petrushka and Enter Achilles	p. 166
Theatre Studies Between Disciplines
Applied theatre	p. 179
Examples of applied theatre	p. 179
Historical trajectories	p. 183
Theoretical paradigms	p. 188
Research methods	p. 191
Outlook	p. 193
Theatre and media	p. 195
Theatre as a medium	p. 196
Theatre and other media	p. 201
Intermediality	p. 205
Notes	p. 209
Bibliography and other resources	p. 212
Index	p. 226
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies

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