Theatre
I. Learn the following vocabulary, look up the words you dont know in adictionary. Make up your own situations with them.
Shows
go to the theatre to see a drama performance/play
a puppet show
an opera
a ballet
a musical comedy
a musical
a circus performance
Genres
a comedy
a tragedy
a romantic comedy
a farce
Buying to book/to buy tickets at the ticket office
Tickets for an evening performance/matinee
for a first night /an opening night
an entrance ticket
tickets for/sit in
Interior
the stalls/the orchestra stalls
To sit in the fifth row of the stalls
the boxes
the pit
the balcony
Frequently used phrases
Who is in the cast tonight?/that evening
What is on tonight?
The house is sold out/the house is full
Staging a performance
to stage a performance
written by a certain playwright
to be on stage/to run /to have a long/ a short run
to have rehearsals /a dress rehearsal
The company and other people creating a performance
the artistic director of the theatre
the director
the producer
the leading actors/actresses who star in the performance
to act in the leading/supporting role/to perform the role of/ the part of..a
costume designer
a make-up designer
a stage manager
a stage hand
a set designer
a prompter
a choreographer
a lightning engineer
a sound engineer
a conductor
a musician
a composer
People offering service in the theatre
a ticket-taker
an usher/an attendant
a cloak-room attendant
At the theatre
to be a great theatre-goer
a spectator
to leave ones clothes and heavy bags in the cloak-room
to get a label
to take opera glasses
to have a snack at a theatre café/refreshment bar to walk in the lobby
to buy a programme / a booklet
to take ones seats when the bell rings
the curtain rises/is raised
the curtain falls/is dropped/drops
the intervalto receive several curtain calls
to applaud loudly
There was great applause after each act.
The Settings
The scenery was exceptionally beautiful/incredibly realistic
They used the surround volume system to create the effect of presence and give an emotional colouring to the performance.
To be especially beautiful in the footlights
To stand in the wings
To get ready in the dressing rooms
To appear on the stage
Sharing ones impressions of the production and the acting
This performance/ this actress/ is much spoken about
exciting
brilliant
striking
to give a marvelous/magnificent/fantastic/terrific performance
The direction is unusual/original/extraordinary
Boring
Primitive
Disgusting
vulgar
spectacular
thrilling
to be first-rate
to be moving /touching
to make/to produce a deep impression on smb
to leave much to be desired
to be at ones best /at ones worst
to have a strong emotional impact on smb
to have a cathartic effect
to drive smb to tears
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to feel like crying/ laughing
to receive good/bad reviews in newspapers
to be close to the book
The acting was natural
This actor overacted too much.
The actress burnt herself out on stage.
The actor put his heart and soul into the role.
The actress caught the spirit of the character very well.
The actor revealed the emotional state and the inner world of the main character.
to be exceptionally good at varying ones voice
His face was very expressive.
to manage to penetrate into the inner world of the character to be a success/a failure
to succeed in bringing the character to life
This actor/actress is charismatic and creates a special atmosphere/aura around him/her.
This performance is unforgettable.
When I saw that performance, it burnt into my heart / it struckme immensely.I had a really good time/I enjoyed the play greatly.
Points to discuss. Use your active vocabulary while talking about the theatre.
1. How do you choose a performance? Do you choose a certain playwright, a certain play, a genre, a actor/actress, a director, a theatre etc? Which of these factors are the most important for you?
2. Do you read reviews before seeing a performance? Do you follow the advice of your friends/parents? Do you choose the performance by yourself?
3. What are you favourite genres/ Moscow theatres/actors/actresses/?
4. Where do you prefer to sit in the theatre?
5. Who are the people who create a performance? What qualities should they possess?
6. What do you usually do when you come to the theatre? Does the atmosphere of the theatre put you in a special mood?
7. Give a list of top ten Moscow actors and actresses. Account for your point of you.
8. Give a list of the most striking Moscow performances and account for your choice.
9. Whats your attitude to commercial theatre projects? Are their quality worse than the one of repertoire theatre performances?
10. Will the theatre be ever ousted by the cinema or TV? Which form of entertainment do you prefer?
11. What makes a good actor/actress? Do they have an easy life in Russia?
12. What is your attitude to TV versions of performances shown on TV, channel Culture, for example?
13. What is your attitude to modernised versions of classical plays? Account for it.
14. Write a review of a performance that struck you/ or that you didnt like very much. Be ready to give a presentation of this performance in class. If you have the programme or the booklet about the performance, bring it to class.
