The theater is one of the most suitable means of expressing human emotions in a dynamic form. Therefore it has stood as a means of self expression through enacting since the ancient times.
Parts of an ancient theater: The Theater comprised a central stage and seating arrangements for audience around it. In the case of a proscenium theater, amphitheater and arena theater the construction is permanent, but in the case of the Black Box Theater, the stage area is not permanent. It can be created according to the requirements. The offstage setting includes the prompter’s box, which is situated at the back of the amphitheater. There is a box for the waiting actors, called the pop up box. The space marked out for the audience, is separated from that of the actors by means of the proscenium arch.
Why fine arts? Theater is regarded as a form of fine arts. The actors enact various scenes from a play. For this they make required preparations. On the stage, they project their emotions according to the requirements of their stage character. This is a difficult task to accomplish since bringing out imagined emotions is not so easy. It requires a lot of training and discipline. Enacting a character with the correct and appropriate emotional details endows the play with a new dimension. Therefore a talented actor can elevate theater to the level of fine arts, where performance counts the most.
History of ancient Greek Theater: In ancient Greece, the theater was called theatron. They were large open aired structures, which were generally constructed on the slopes of the hills. The centre space of the hill was called the dancing space. It was clearly visible from the surroundings. The orchestra was the site where the choral performances were done. In the mid point of the orchestra, an altar was dedicated to the Goddess Dionysius. In ancient Rome also, the theater was created with walls and terraces, instead of natural surroundings. Theaters in Elizabethan England consisted of wooden constructions with several floors. A large portion of the audience used to stand in the yard and look at the stage. There was a green room at the back of the stage. Here the actors waited for their turn and also changed their costumes.
Wagner Model: Richard Wagner of Germany placed a special emphasis on mood setting. For example, he emphasized the melodramatic setting, with a dark theater background so that audience could experience the mood of the play. The concept was revolutionary at that time. But later on it became an important element of modern drama.
