Theatrical realism was a general movement in 19th-century theatre from the time period of 1870-1960 that developed a set of dramatic and theatrical conventions, its aim was to bring real life events and situations to the theatre.
Some conventions of realism are:
· Characters are believable.
· Everyday type’s costumes are authentic.
· Stage settings (locations) and props are often indoors and believable the ‘box set’ is normally used for realistic dramas on stage, consisting of three walls and an invisible ‘fourth wall’ facing the audience.
· Settings for realistic plays are often bland (deliberately ordinary).
· Dialogue is not heightened for effect, but that of everyday speech.
· The drama is typically psychologically driven, where the plot is secondary and primary focus is placed on the interior lives of characters, their motives, the reactions of others etc.
· Realistic plays often see the main character rise up against the odds to assert him/her against an injustice of some kind.
· Everyday type’s costumes are authentic.
· Stage settings (locations) and props are often indoors and believable the ‘box set’ is normally used for realistic dramas on stage, consisting of three walls and an invisible ‘fourth wall’ facing the audience.
· Settings for realistic plays are often bland (deliberately ordinary).
· Dialogue is not heightened for effect, but that of everyday speech.
· The drama is typically psychologically driven, where the plot is secondary and primary focus is placed on the interior lives of characters, their motives, the reactions of others etc.
· Realistic plays often see the main character rise up against the odds to assert him/her against an injustice of some kind.
Realism skills when performing:
· Little or no backs to the audience, unless stylised and briefly used for effect.
· Loud vocal projection.
· Appropriate stance and stage movements for the character being portrayed (remember, a young child may crawl, but an old man will walk slowly).
· Small gestures that add a convincing ‘extra touch’ to the character.
· Suitable facial expressions at particular moments in the drama.
· Stage movement that occurs naturally, usually based on certain lines.
· Realistic props, costumes, lighting and sets.
· Loud vocal projection.
· Appropriate stance and stage movements for the character being portrayed (remember, a young child may crawl, but an old man will walk slowly).
· Small gestures that add a convincing ‘extra touch’ to the character.
· Suitable facial expressions at particular moments in the drama.
· Stage movement that occurs naturally, usually based on certain lines.
· Realistic props, costumes, lighting and sets.
Realism playwrights:
Anton Chekhov was a famous Russian play writer who wrote famous plays such as The cherry orchard, The seagull, Three sisters, Uncle Vanya, Ivanoz and The Bear.
Stanislavsky was a Russian actor and theatre director, known for his revolutionary method of acting that was based on the concept of emotional memory for which an actor focuses internally to portray a character's emotions on stage.
Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian play writer who wrote famous plays such as A Doll’s house, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck and The Master Builder.
August Strindberg was a Swedish realist and expressionist who wrote famous plays such as Miss Julie, A Dream, The Father and Creditors.