Description
On a Theatre Without Words
Book Summary
This work explores the development of drama without words as a fundamental genre for the re-theatricalization of the Spanish stage. Through rigorous analysis, the author examines how pantomime emerged as a theatrical form that connected with classical drama while simultaneously standing in direct opposition to naturalism. The study reveals how this genre forged a new model of actor, displacing grandiloquent oratory to turn the body and face into vehicles of total significance. An essential read for understanding the evolution of theatre and its expressive languages.
What is it about?
The book addresses drama without words, or pantomime, as a privileged genre that allowed for the renewal of the Spanish theatrical scene. It analyzes how this dramatic form linked with the classical tradition while establishing a direct opposition to the dominant naturalist theatre. In this context, pantomime is presented as a crucial link in the forging of a new actor, who had to dispense with verbal rhetoric and express themselves solely through body language and facial expression. The work examines the contributions of key authors such as Benavente, Gómez de la Serna, Martínez Sierra, Tomás Borrás, and García Lorca, among others, showing how each contributed to the evolution and richness of the genre.
Main themes
- Development of drama without words as a theatrical genre.
- Re-theatricalization of the Spanish stage against naturalism.
- Evolution of the actor's body language and facial expression.
- Analysis of pantomime as a link between classical drama and scenic modernity.
- Contributions by authors such as Benavente, Gómez de la Serna, Martínez Sierra, Tomás Borrás, and García Lorca.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students, researchers, and professionals of the performing arts, as well as any reader interested in the history of theatre, dramaturgy, and non-verbal forms of expression. It is especially useful for those who wish to understand the processes of theatrical renewal and the role of the actor in scenic communication.
What this book contributes
- A detailed vision of pantomime as a key genre in the theatrical renewal of the 20th century.
- Analysis of acting techniques based on the body and face, versus the verbal tradition.
- Study of the contributions of fundamental authors of the Spanish stage.
- Understanding of the opposition between naturalist theatre and alternative dramatic forms.
- Historical and aesthetic contextualization of drama without words in theatrical literature.
Technical specifications
- Author: EMILIO PERAL VEGA
- Publisher: ANTHROPOS EDITORIAL
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: THEATRICAL STUDIES, POETRY, PLAYS, THEATRICAL TEXTS, GEOGRAPHY
- Collection: NONE
- Binding: Other
- Edition date: July 2008
- Number of pages: 142
- Weight: 101 g
Editorial review
This is a specialized and rigorous study that sheds light on a genre often undervalued in the history of theatre. The work is of great interest to the academic and professional public, as it not only documents a scenic phenomenon but also invites reflection on the expressive possibilities of the body on stage. Its analytical approach and the selection of authors treated make it a useful reference for those seeking to delve into alternatives to conventional theatre.