1.3 The emergence and principles of Realism in theatre

Realism in theatre emerged in the mid-19th century as a reaction to Romanticism and melodrama. It aimed to depict ordinary life, focusing on everyday people and their struggles. This shift reflected broader societal changes like the rise of the middle class and scientific thought.

Key figures like Ibsen and Chekhov championed Realism, emphasizing authentic representation and psychological depth. The movement revolutionized theatre by addressing social issues and influencing acting techniques. Its principles continue to shape modern theatre, film, and TV.

Realism in Theatre

Origins and Development

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• Realism emerged in the mid-19th century as a reaction against the exaggerated, artificial styles of Romanticism and melodrama
• The rise of the middle class and the influence of scientific thought contributed to the development of Realism in theatre
• Realism aimed to depict life as it was, focusing on ordinary people and their struggles (factory workers, farmers), rather than idealized or exaggerated characters and situations (nobility, fantastical settings)
• Key figures in the development of Realism include Henrik Ibsen (A Doll's House), Anton Chekhov (The Cherry Orchard), and Émile Zola (Thérèse Raquin), who advocated for a more naturalistic approach to theatre
• The Moscow Art Theatre, founded by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, played a significant role in promoting and refining Realistic techniques (method acting, ensemble playing)

Impact and Significance

• Realism revolutionized theatre by focusing on the authentic representation of everyday life and the human condition
• Realistic plays often addressed social and political issues (class inequality, women's rights), encouraging audiences to reflect on their own lives and society
• The emphasis on psychological depth and inner motivation of characters (desires, fears, secrets) added a new layer of complexity to theatrical storytelling
• Realism influenced the development of other theatrical movements, such as Naturalism and Social Realism, which further explored the relationship between individuals and their environment
• The techniques and principles of Realism continue to shape contemporary theatre, film, and television, with many actors and directors still drawing on the Stanislavski Method and other Realistic approaches

Key Principles of Realism

Authentic Representation

• The fourth wall is an imaginary barrier between the stage and the audience, creating the illusion that the characters are unaware of the audience's presence
• Realistic plays feature natural, everyday dialogue that mimics the way people speak in real life (colloquialisms, pauses, interruptions), as opposed to the heightened, poetic language of earlier theatrical styles
• Detailed, authentic sets and props are used to create a convincing illusion of real life on stage, often reflecting the social and economic status of the characters (worn furniture for poor characters, luxurious decor for wealthy ones)
• Costumes in Realistic theatre are designed to accurately reflect the time period, social class, and occupation of the characters (work clothes for laborers, fashionable attire for the upper class)

Acting Techniques

• Realistic acting techniques, such as the Stanislavski Method, emphasize emotional truth, motivation, and the inner life of the character
• Actors are encouraged to draw on their own experiences and emotions (sense memory, emotional recall) to create believable, psychologically complex characters
• Realistic performances often involve subtle, nuanced expressions and gestures (facial expressions, body language) rather than broad, exaggerated movements
• Ensemble acting is emphasized in Realistic theatre, with actors working together to create a sense of authentic interaction and relationships between characters
• Realistic plays often follow a linear, cause-and-effect narrative structure, presenting a slice of life rather than a heightened, dramatic plot (events unfolding over time, characters shaped by their environment)

Social Influences on Realism

Economic and Technological Changes

• The Industrial Revolution and the growth of the middle class led to a demand for theatre that reflected the experiences and concerns of ordinary people
• Rapid urbanization and the changing nature of work and family life provided new subject matter for Realistic playwrights to explore (factory conditions, shifting gender roles)
• Advances in lighting and stage technology (gas lighting, electric lighting) allowed for more detailed and realistic sets and effects
• The rise of photography and early cinema influenced Realistic theatre by providing new ways of capturing and representing reality

Intellectual and Political Movements

• The influence of scientific thought, including Darwin's theory of evolution, encouraged a more objective, empirical approach to understanding human behavior and society
• Social and political movements, such as the rise of socialism and the women's suffrage movement, influenced the subject matter and themes explored in Realistic plays (class struggle, gender equality)
• The growth of psychoanalysis and the ideas of Sigmund Freud (unconscious desires, childhood experiences) inspired Realistic playwrights to explore the inner lives of their characters more deeply
• Realism was often associated with progressive social and political causes (workers' rights, women's emancipation), using the stage as a platform for critique and reform

Realism vs Earlier Styles

Thematic and Narrative Differences

• Realism rejected the exaggerated, larger-than-life characters and situations of melodrama and Romanticism in favor of more ordinary, relatable characters and situations (middle-class families, everyday conflicts)
• While earlier theatrical styles often featured heightened, poetic language, Realism emphasized natural, everyday speech patterns (vernacular, regional dialects)
• Realistic plays often addressed social and political issues more directly than earlier theatrical styles, which tended to focus on timeless themes or moral lessons (individual vs. society, class inequality vs. universal human struggles)
• Realism focused on the inner lives and motivations of characters, rather than the external, plot-driven action that characterized many earlier theatrical styles (psychological depth vs. grand, sweeping narratives)

Staging and Design Contrasts

• Realistic sets and costumes aimed for authenticity and detail (real food, functional props), in contrast to the more stylized, symbolic, or minimal designs of earlier theatrical styles (representational backdrops, symbolic props)
• Realistic staging often involved a box set with three walls, creating a more immersive and believable environment, while earlier styles frequently used a proscenium arch or open stage (thrust stage, arena stage)
• Lighting in Realistic theatre aimed to simulate natural light sources (sunlight through windows, gas lamps), while earlier styles often used more artificial or dramatic lighting effects (footlights, colored gels)
• Sound effects in Realism were used to enhance the illusion of reality (street noise, rain), while earlier theatrical styles often employed music or stylized sound to create mood or atmosphere (incidental music, sound cues)