Japanese & Chinese Theatre

Japanese Theatre

The theatre types being covered:

• Kabuki
• Noh
• Bunraku
• Butoh

Kabuki Theatre:

• Kabuki is one of the traditional forms of theatre and its performance is rich in showmanship.
• Elaborately designed costumes, interesting makeup, outlandish wigs and accentuated actions performed by actors all make up this theatre type
• The accentuated actions are very important because they allow the audience to understand the story through use of visuals when the ancient Japanese language is difficult to understand
• Revolving platforms and trapdoors are used to facilitate the changing of the scene and the appearance or disappearance of the actors. The footbridge is situated in the middle of the audience to allow powerful entrances and exits.
• Instruments used are traditionally Japanese.
• The stories usually revolve around historical events, warm-hearted dramas, ethical conflicts, love stories, and stories of conspiracy. The performance is usually only of part of the story, and usually of the best part
• It originally was performed only by women, but this changed during the Edo Period (1603 - 1868), where it was performed only by men, this is continued today
• Assistants dressed in black appear on the stage to help with props, called "kurogo", meant to be invisible
• It is normal for audience members to call out the actors name to show support and appreciation

Noh Theatre:

• Involves music, dance and drama, derives from 14th century
• 5 main Noh groups have been established, and are still performing today
• The movement in Noh theatre is very slow, its language is poetic but tone is monotonous, and the costumes are elaborate
• Stories come from legends, history, literature and modern events
• Themes may relate to ghosts and spirits, the supernatural or dreams
• Performed on a square stage with a roof (usually performed outside)
• All sides of stage are open except the back which holds an image of a pine tree
• Only men can perform, leading man called the Shite
• Waki - supporting actor
• Hayashi - musicians (4 people, flute and 3 drums)
• Jiutai - chorus
• Kohen - helpers dressed in black, meant to be invisible
• The Shite wears a unique mask for his character made of Japanese cypress
• Kyogen - short story performed in the interval

Bunraku Theatre:

• Traditional Japanese puppet theatre
• Puppets 1m tall, controlled by 3 people, principal actor and 2 assistants, no strings, body parts manoeuvred and puppeteers dressed in black
• Single narrator who also does voice for all puppets, must have good vocal range
• Accompanied by music
• Stories are heartbreaking love stories, heroic legends and historical tales

Butoh Theatre:

• Stands for various actions, techniques and motivations for performance, dance and movement
• Involves good humoured and ugly imagery, forbidden subjects and intense or ridiculous environments
• Actors painted all in white and move in a slow, controlled way
• Perform with or without audience
• Actions performed inside and outside body, with purpose of "full movement control"
• Reaching correct Butoh state requires actor to be experiencing starvation, intense pain or sleep deprivation
• This is because those were the sensations of the actors originally, to help them have immense power

Chinese Theatre

Dynasties:

• Shang Dynasty (1766-1066BC) - started as haunting dances, animal movements still used in martial arts and theatre today
• Tang Dynasty (618-907)
• Song Dynasty (960-1979)
• Yuan Dynasty (1279-1369)
• Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644)

Modern forms:

• Beijing Opera
• Cantonese Opera

Early period:

• Origins lie in early religious rituals
• Different theatrical approaches through different dynasties
• Started out with hunting dances and dances imitating animals
• Developed into chorus dances
• Displays of acrobatic skill
• Emergence of martial arts demonstrations

Shadow play:

Style of Peking shadow theatre developed into two major styles: Western with large puppets and Eastern with elements of opera.

"Chinese shadow puppets vary in size from some 20cm to 1m. They are cut from leather that is treated and coloured so that they became transparent. Their legs, waists, shoulders and elbows can be bent, and their arms are constructed from two parts. Thus the puppets can imitate human movements when they are operated with rods behind a paper or muslin screen. Their reflections on the screen are colourful and their finer details are chiselled in the leather as a kind of filigree ornamentation."