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The Rise of Realism
Realism was first introduced in the 1850s. It was based on the outlook of the world scientifically rather than morally. Realists did not believe in moral goodness, they believed that it is the human's individual responsibility to achieve their desired results. -
Charles Darwin - "On the Origins of Species"
"On the Origins of Species" was written in 1859 and it called many biblical passages into question. Darwin argued that all forms of life have developed gradually from common ancestry. Also that this evolution of species involves the natural selection of those best adapted to specific environments. The rise of intellectual and scientific developments influenced many people's beliefs in the late nineteenth century. -
The Rise of Naturalism
Naturalism was introduced in the 1870s. Just like realism, it was grounded in a scientific outlook, which is the need to understand the behavior of humans in terms of cause and effect. Naturalists use both derailed accuracy and philosophical depth (American Literary Naturalism). Naturalism had very little success in theatre due to the common belief that it was "too extreme in its demands." -
Henrick Ibsen
Henrick Ibsen was a Norwegian play writer. He is referred to as the founder of modern drama. He began his playwriting career in 1850 writing about Scandinavian legends. In 1870 he switched to writing about contemporary subjects. His new plays stirred up a lot of controversies because the endings of his plays did not support accepted values. His plays were denied in many places because they were deemed immoral and corrupting. His plays challenged moral values and the social norms of many people. -
The Emergence of Directors - Richard Wagoner and Georg II, duke of Sax-Meiningen
Richard wagoner was a heavy influence on the acceptance of modern directors. He believed in the unity of production. That everything needed to be filtered through a single person to achieve the best artistic effect. Georg II, Duke of Sax-Meiningen as considered the first director by many. In his productions, he controlled every aspect of the plays, from scenery to costumes to actors. He was in charge of every aspect to make sure it was to his perfection. -
The Bayreuth Theatre
Richard Wagoner opened the Bayreuth theatre. It was the very first theatre in the west to change the arrangement style. He went away with the box, pit, and gallery arrangement. Instead, he used a fan-shaped pattern that amplified the ability for everyone to see and hear the action on the stage. The light was darkened during performances to distinguish between the everyday world (the auditorium) and the ideal realm (the stage). The new design set the pattern for many 20th century theatres. -
Reaction to Realism - Symbolism
In opposition to realism, this new strand of performance was emerging. It was called Symbolism. Symbolism argued that truth is beyond objective examination, it only can be intuited, it can not be expressed through rational means only hinted at through a network of symbols based on our intuition. Symbolism usually avoided social problems, they aimed to display a universal truth that could not be logically argued. This caused their plays to be vague and mysterious. -
Independent Theatre Movement
The Independent Theatre Movement was a big stepping stone for many producers. Public plays had to be approved by a censor before they could be produced. Due to this, many producers were not able to present their plays. But, private plays did not have to be censored. Many independent theatres found this loophole and were able to present their plays. The first independent theatre, Theatre Libre founded in Paris in 1887. -
Art for Art's sake - "The Importance of being Earnest"
Oscar Wilde was the best-known playwright in the Art for Art's sake movement. Rather than focusing on contemporary subjects and problems he claimed that art has an independent life and that its imaginative powers must remain free from the concerns of its time. He believed that life imitates art. In his productions, he carefully constructed exposition, skillful manipulation of withheld information, and startling reversals by last-minute revelations. All of these aspects made him a respected man. -
The Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre achieved its first major success with the plays of Anton Chekhov. His plays were set in rural Russia and showed the frustrations of providence life. The characters wanted a better life but did not know how to achieve it. Soviet authorities considered this theatre the model that other companies should emulate. Today it is most widely associated with its realistic productions of Chekhov’s plays.