The Early Beginnings

So you’ve decided that you want to work in the live entertainment industry. But what does that actually mean? Where can you find work and do you need a post secondary education? Well the first thing you need to understand is that working in this industry there is a whole other language that is spoken. To understand the language, knowing where the terminology comes from makes a huge difference.

Can you believe that the art of the stage has been around since 6th BC? That is a long time for people to be entertained by performers. So many people believe that the Thespian actor began in the Renaissance era or more specifically Shakespeare but actually began with the Greeks. The Greek theatre origins fall with the followers of Dionysus, a god of fertility and wine. To keep the god amused, his ceremonies were, well, “exciting” to say the least. The females would perform themselves into such a tizzy that they would normally end with the flesh of sacrificial animals. Hmmm, no thanks!

But the Dionysian’s were a bit more structured with their art form. They would perform stories of Greek Myth through dance, song and vocal performances. Can we say musical theatre perhaps?!?During the 6th Century a priest of Dionysus named Thespis introduced a new element to the stage and low and behold we have theatre. Thespis, engages in a dialogue with the chorus and in essence becomes the first actor. And the term Thespian actors is born! Huh, who knew that the world of the Thespian actor began so long ago.

What is more surprising is the first female actress hit the stage in 1680! Say what?!?!? We had to wait a long time before a female performed her take on acting. Why is this you ask? Well, back then “respectable ladies” would not think such a thing as to be on stage. Of course, this meant the coveted roles of Juliet and Lady MacBeth, just to name a few, were played by men. Why did it take so long for women to enter stage right? Well, back in 532 BC, when the Greeks started their plays women were considered inferior to men so their roles in society became extremely restricted. What quickly transpired is that it was deemed “too dangerous” for women to be onstage. (source https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2003/07/when-men-were-men-and-women-too/)

Something amazing happened though. During the 17th century a new form of musical theatre made its appearance. Can you guess it? If you said the Opera, then you are right! The Opera led way for women to debut their theatrical talents and chops. Even though the Greeks and Christian religion felt it was boorish to have women on stage, once the female species hit the deck there was no turning back.

Of course, this led to female playwrights, which again, was unheard of.

Now-a-days you can find women filling the roles of every department. Women play important roles in putting a show together. They will go toe-to-toe with any male colleague and be successful. Women add a different outlook, a different feel to the stage. They bring their own life’s experiences to the industry and I for am thankful for the women who stepped out of the wings.