About Lesson
B.5. Theatre
The Natya Shastra is the first official treatise on dramaturgy, and it was written between the years 200 BC and AD 28. It contains descriptions of 10 different play genres, ranging in length from one act to ten lakhs.
- In India, the theatre started as a narrative art form that combined acting, dancing, and music.
- The theatre included dance, music, and recitation as essential elements. Sanskrit theatre is one of the forms of classical theatre in India.
- While classical Sanskrit theatre was more urban-oriented and sophisticated in its treatment of the location for the theatre had rural roads and the rustic flavour was reflected in the dramatic style involved, traditional folk theatre reflected various aspects of the localized style, including social norms, beliefs, and customs.
- The demand for fresh forms of entertainment led to the creation of modern Indian theatre. Dramas started to become commercialized, and viewers had to pay.