The Stage
In Greek, the word theatre meant "seeing-place" or "spectacle place", and the stage therefore, was the actual location where spectacles took place. The evolution of the stage; whether in a Greek amphitheatre or on a Medieval wagon, was essentially a creative and practical response to what kind of story was being told, what technology was available to tell the story, and what kind of experience the producers of the spectacle wanted the audience to have. Was the audience to be merely an observer, or were they expected to be participants in the theatre spectacle? So, depending on what type of stage was used, the relationship between the performers and the audience was greatly influenced. In the following slide presentation on theatre architecture and the National Theatre video, you will discover not only how theatres and their stages have evolved structurally over millennia, but you will also see how interconnected the theatre is with society, technology religion, art and culture.
Explore the presentation below to learn more about Theatre Architecture and Stage Technology.
Follow the video links below as Nicholas Hytner gives us an overview of the three different stages used by the National Theatre in London.
An Overview of the Olivier Theatre