Political Influence On Theatre Essay

The Political Influence of Theater
Throughout history, theater has been a primary form of entertainment for all classes of individuals. During a time with no television or radio, theater was an escape from everyday life and an exciting event to which many looked forward. Countless plays, as early as William Shakespeare’s works, to as recent as a new Broadway staging of 1984, have been a stage for conveying ideas and morals about life and society. While the specific messages and topics change over time, playwrights’ opinions are frequently conveyed either subtly or explicitly. From early theatrical performances in fifth century BC, when audiences would gather on a hillside and view performances on a makeshift wooden stage, up to modern day examples,
Robert Schenkkan explains that “storytelling and empathy are the most effective ways to have a constructive conversation about these very non-partisan issues in a way that moves the needle,” (Gilbert, 2017). Unlike debates and arguments that often result from political discussions, theater emphasizes an issue in society or a political idea that the playwright strives to bring to the attention of the audience. This technique provokes thought without being malicious or too direct, and may result in the audience members questioning their own beliefs and stances on various issues. Theater provides protection in the form of “layers of protection, production, interpretation,” (Kushner, 1997), and it allows opinions to be safely expressed. This technique has been employed by playwrights for thousands of years, making theater a longstanding political
Through characters’ actions, dialogue and thematic principles, Shakespeare’s stances on certain issues are portrayed. In Troilus and Cressida, Ulysses introduces a theme about political and societal order when he says, “Take but degree away, untune that string, and, hark, what discord follows!” (SCENE III. The Grecian Camp. Before Agamemnon’s Tent). Shakespeare conveys the issue of a world without order through this speech. This metaphor compares society with a musical string instrument, with the untuned string being equivalent to a lack of unified political structure. Without order there can be no harmony in the lives of men, and progress cannot be made. The result of this is conflict and