Eastern Theater
Eastern Theater: Japan
Baracao, Gilda Mae D.
Celis, Christelle Joy R.
Cruz, Danisa M.
Mendoza, Katrina S.
Noh and Kyogen
The earliest existing Kyogen scripts date from the 14th century. Kyogen was used as an intermission between Noh acts — it linked the theme of the Noh play with the modern world by means of farce and slapstick. The Noh was only performed to the high level class. Unlike Noh, the performers of Kyogen do not wear masks, unless their role calls for physical transformation.
Both men and women were allowed to perform Kyogen until 1450.
Kabuki
The best known form of Japanese theatre is Kabuki. It was performed by Okunis. Perhaps its fame comes from the wild costumes and swordfights, which used real swords until the 1680s. Kabuki grew out of opposition to Noh — they wanted to shock the audience with more lively and timely stories. The first performance was in 1603.
Like Noh, however, over time Kabuki became not just performing in a new way, but a stylized art to be performed only a certain way.
As a matter of interest, the popular Gekidan Shinkansen, a theatrical troupe based in Tokyo today, insists it follows pure kabuki tradition by performing historical roles in a modern, noisy, and outlandish way — to shock the audience as kabuki intended, if you will. Whether or not they are kabuki, however, remains a matter of debate and personal opinion.
Kabuki is a type of theatre that combines music, drama, and dance.
Bunraku
Puppets and Bunraku were used in Japanese theatre as early as the noh plays. Medieval records record the use of puppets actually in Noh plays. Puppets are 3- to 4-foot-tall (0.91 to 1.2 m) dolls that are manipulated by puppeteers in full view of the audience. The puppeteers controlling the legs and hands are dressed entirely in black, while the head puppeteer is wearing colorful clothing. Music and chanting is a popular convention of bunraku, and the shamisen player is usually considered to be the leader of the
Baracao, Gilda Mae D.
Celis, Christelle Joy R.
Cruz, Danisa M.
Mendoza, Katrina S.
Noh and Kyogen
The earliest existing Kyogen scripts date from the 14th century. Kyogen was used as an intermission between Noh acts — it linked the theme of the Noh play with the modern world by means of farce and slapstick. The Noh was only performed to the high level class. Unlike Noh, the performers of Kyogen do not wear masks, unless their role calls for physical transformation.
Both men and women were allowed to perform Kyogen until 1450.
Kabuki
The best known form of Japanese theatre is Kabuki. It was performed by Okunis. Perhaps its fame comes from the wild costumes and swordfights, which used real swords until the 1680s. Kabuki grew out of opposition to Noh — they wanted to shock the audience with more lively and timely stories. The first performance was in 1603.
Like Noh, however, over time Kabuki became not just performing in a new way, but a stylized art to be performed only a certain way.
As a matter of interest, the popular Gekidan Shinkansen, a theatrical troupe based in Tokyo today, insists it follows pure kabuki tradition by performing historical roles in a modern, noisy, and outlandish way — to shock the audience as kabuki intended, if you will. Whether or not they are kabuki, however, remains a matter of debate and personal opinion.
Kabuki is a type of theatre that combines music, drama, and dance.
Bunraku
Puppets and Bunraku were used in Japanese theatre as early as the noh plays. Medieval records record the use of puppets actually in Noh plays. Puppets are 3- to 4-foot-tall (0.91 to 1.2 m) dolls that are manipulated by puppeteers in full view of the audience. The puppeteers controlling the legs and hands are dressed entirely in black, while the head puppeteer is wearing colorful clothing. Music and chanting is a popular convention of bunraku, and the shamisen player is usually considered to be the leader of the
References: http://www.arlymasks.com/japanese_history_timeline.htm http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/contents/whats/stage.html http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/noh/en/kg_mask/kg_mask.html http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/contents/creaters/operator.html http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/contents/dolls/kashira.html http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/contents/creaters/wig.html http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/contents/creaters/cloth.html http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/contents/creaters/prop.html http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/kabuki/en/5/5_03.html