Asian Theatre Supplemental Notes

1. What is Asian Theatre?
There is no single Asian theatre. There are a number of theatrical forms in Asia-- Sanskrit drama in
India; Beijing Opera in China; Kabuki, Bunraku (traditional Japanese puppet theatre) and Noh drama in
Japan. Although they share several common characteristics, each theatrical form is different.
2. What is generally considered the earliest Asian Theatre?
Indian Sanskrit drama dates back to the eighth century BCE, long before the birth of classical Greek
tragedy. These works are some of the earliest theatrical texts.
A Modern Performance of Traditional Indian Sanskrit drama
Balivadham (The Killing of Bali), a Sanskrit Drama

Kutiyattam, meaning "combined acting," is Sanskrit drama presented in the traditional style in the
temple theatres
of the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is the only surviving specimen of the ancient Sanskrit
drama.
3. What are some of common characteristics of Eastern Theatre?
Eastern, or Asian, Theatre is...
1. Seldom "spoken." Instead it is sung, chanted, danced and mimed.
2. More visual and sensual than literary or intellectual. A Kabuki script is seen by the Japanese as a
production vehicle, not a literary text. The plays are seldom read, even in Japan.
3. Loosely plotted. There is a strong emphasis on storytelling, but the plotting techniques of
Western drama-- escalating incidents, plot reversals, climaxes --are absent.
4. Highly stylized. The formalized acting techniques are typically passed from father to son.
5. Deeply traditional. Scripts and concepts which were developed three or four hundred years ago
are still presented to a modern audience with minimal changes.
4. What eastern nation is the home of both Kabuki and Noh.
Japan.
5. When was Kabuki born?
Kabuki was invented by a Kyoto shrine maiden, Izumo Okuni, around 1600 and reached its peak during
Japan's shogun-dominated Edo era: 1616 to 1853.
6. What are the three categories of Kabuki plays?

1. History plays-- jidaimono [period things] --dramatize major political events from the past-- 9th to
15th century.
2. Domestic plays-- sewamono [trouble things] --deal with the affairs of townspeople from the
playwright's era.
3. Dance-dramas-- shosagoto [pose things] --which are very popular, often deal with the world of
spirits and animals.
7. Describe a Kabuki theatre.
A Kabuki theatre is a proscenium house with an

extremely large (90 feet wide by 30 feet deep) stage.
Because the musicians are a part of the company
they perform on the stage instead of being buried in
the orchestra pit. The flat, two dimensional, painted
scenery is stylized, but not abstract. It is used to give
location. From a historical perspective, the Kabuki
was the first theatre to use rolling wagons, an
elevator stage (1727) and a turntable (1758). See the
diagram on pages 268.
A Modern Kabuki Performance in Osaka
17th Centry Kabuki Theatre Opening of Act Two of Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura,
a Japanese Kabuki drama.
8. What is the hanamichi?
The hanamichi, or "flower way," is an entrance ramp which runs from stage right to the rear of the
auditorium.
9. What is Japan's most revered and cerebral theatre?
The Noh drama is a mysterious, tragic, usually supernatural, ceremonial music-dance-drama. There are
about 240 Noh texts. All were written about 500 years ago by the members of one family. All Noh
dramas focus on a single character, the shite who is interrograted, prompted and challanged by
the waki. The Noh is not "the drama of mass entertainment." Many, including the Japanese, find these
small cast, slow paced, static plays bewildering. Most Western audiences echo George Bernard Shaw's
comment: "Noh drama is no drama." See the synopsis of Sotoba Komachi by Kan'ami on page 411.
10. Describe a traditional Noh theatre.

The traditonal Noh stage is an eighteen
foot square platform. The audience sits in
front of, and stage right of the deck. There
is a bridge, the hashigakari, which leads
from the dressing room to the right rear
corner of the platform. A six to ten
member chorus of singer-chanters is on
the actors left and the four musicians, a
flute and three drums, or located at the
rear of the stage. A stylized image of a
single dignified pine tree is painted on the
back wall. See the ground plan on page
262 and the photograph of the National
Noh Theatre in Tokyo on page 154.
Modern Noh Theatre A Modern Performance of a Noh drama

in Kyoto, Japan
Hagoromo, a Noh drama
11. How has Asian theatre influenced Western drama?
Starting in the middle of the twentieth century, non realistic playwrights, directors and designers began
using elements of Eastern theatre in their presentations.

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1. What is Asian Theatre?

2. What is generally considered the earliest Asian Theatre?

A Modern Performance of Traditional Indian Sanskrit drama

Balivadham (The Killing of Bali), a Sanskrit Drama

3. What are some of common characteristics of Eastern Theatre?

Eastern, or Asian, Theatre is...

1. Seldom "spoken." Instead it is sung, chanted, danced and mimed.

4. What eastern nation is the home of both Kabuki and Noh.

5. When was Kabuki born?

6. What are the three categories of Kabuki plays?

7. Describe a Kabuki theatre.

A Kabuki theatre is a proscenium house with an

A Modern Kabuki Performance in Osaka

8. What is the hanamichi?

9. What is Japan's most revered and cerebral theatre?

10. Describe a traditional Noh theatre.

Modern Noh Theatre A Modern Performance of a Noh drama

11. How has Asian theatre influenced Western drama?

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