Relevance of Shakespearean theatre to the modern Indian theatre with special reference to Othello, Macbeth, Kinglear & Hamlet

Abstract

The study of the subject has been conducted in the light of the tentative hypothesis that Shakespearean theatre is relevant to modern Indian theatre. Further that Shakespeare is such a theatre personality who manipulated the stage according to his needs and totally changed the concept of the theatre. He is a multi-faceted personality. He is first rate play Wright, actor, director and stage manager. His works are immortal as the great epics and scriptures of the world. Hence, relevant to all time. The whole study is divided into six chapters. (1) The first chapter History of theatre has been divided into three parts as there are three relams in the field of theatre. 1. Greek Theatre 2. Indian theatre 3. Elizabethan Theatre. GREEK THEATRE: - In its crude form drama began when human beings bagan to perform various rites to appease supernatural forces but the proper drama began with the greek dramatists. Written records according to origin of theatre are found when the Athenian government accorded official sanction and financial support to drama. This connection between theatre and state began in 534 B.C. Greek tragedy is based almost entirely on the work of three playwrights: Aeschylus,Sophocles and Euridies. Most of the tragedies begin with a prologue which provides information about events that have occurred prior to the opening of the play. Greek comedy was sufficiently developed by 487 B.C to be accorded a place at the city Dionysia. Aristophanes is noteworthy Greek comedian whose comedies are marked with his commentary on contemporary society politics and literature. Greek theatre was a circular dancing place called an orchestra in the middle of which stood an altar when an actor was added to the tragic choreutae,it became necessary to provide a dressing room and this temporary structure was called a scene. The scene building often has two projecting side wings called Parascenia: the front of the scene building and of the parascenia came to be decorated with a row of columns, the Proscenium.