-
499 BCE
Greek Theatre
Steeply raked seating areas were created which surrounded the performing areas on three sides. The seating area allowed for the audience to easily view the performance below. -
400 BCE
Roman Theatre
Roman theatre followed most Greek designs hower slightly changed them in the process. The orchestra became a semicircle extending outward from the stage area, which was framed by the proscenium. The skene was transformed into a decorated single facade called the scanae frons. The theatres were usually built on ground level instead of the hillside sites developed by the Greeks. -
Period: 1500 to
Renaissance Theatre
One of the most significant changes to theatre was that productioned were moved indoors rather than outdoors. The semicircular stage design was changed to an ellipse which dramatically changed sight lines for the better. -
1501
Medieval Theatre
The sets were composed of small building that represented places related to biblical stories. One side of the set often represented Heaven while the other represented Hell. -
Period: to
1650-1900
by 1660 the architectural style and types of scenery were fairly standardized throughout England. Even though the scenery had become more elaborate, it still followed the tradition of creating a visual background rather than an environment in which the action of the play could happen. -
1724
In 1724 the government gave permission for Kabuki troupes to build indoor roofed theatres. Shortly after, advanced stage machinery began to be developed. Some include elevator traps, elevator stages, and revolving stages. -
Twentieth Century Theatre (1900 and onward)
Theatre began to revolutionize in the late 1800s and into the early twentieth century. as the productions became more realistic, the shape of the theatre changed to support it. the new productions demanded environments for the action of the play rather than a background.
