History of Theatre 7 - The Arched Spectacle / Teatro Farnese (cc's: English, Español)
History of Western Theatre
This section provides a historical overview of the development of Western theatre, focusing on the oldest remaining theatre with a permanent proscenium arch in Parma, Italy.
The Arched Spectacle
- The oldest remaining theatre with a permanent proscenium arch is located in Parma, Italy at Palazzo della Pilotta (Pilotta palace) and was built in 1618 by Giovanni Battista Aleotti for Ranuccio Farnese, the duke of Parma.
- The Farnese Theater serves as the prototype for many theatres built over the next 300 years and is considered the oldest proscenium arch in Europe.
- Other notable theatres with proscenium arches include Richelieu's theatre in Paris (1640), La Scala in Milan (1778), and City Theatre in Amsterdam (1894).
- Over time, proscenium arches spanned more of the width of theatre halls, replacing ancient Roman Scaenae Frons designs.
- The Farnese Theatre had movable wings designed by Aleotti, which became standard in European theatres.
Stage Design and Effects
- The Farnese Theatre featured wooden Corinthian columns and a stadium-like auditorium that could accommodate 4500 spectators. It had a U-shaped layout with an orchestra and auditorium.
- Scenery flats and actors could appear on stage from cellar-vaults using machinery installed at Teatro Farnese. Fireworks were also used on stage.
- Moving clouds were created using apparatuses, and even actors could be placed on them. This technique was pioneered by Giacomo Torelli.
- The inauguration of Teatro Farnese included a spectacle play called "Mercury and Mars" with complex cloud-constructions, descending gods and goddesses, and a flooded orchestra for a naval battle scene.
- A 'deus-ex-machina apparatus' known as a 'geranos' or 'machina' was used to lower actors from the ceiling to the stage, similar to ancient Greek theatre.
Stage Scenery
This section explores stage scenery in Western theatre, including different designs and advancements over time.
Perspective Stage Sceneries
- Seventeenth-century stage sceneries were often symmetrical and perspective-based, such as the one found in Palantina library in Parma.
- Amsterdam City Theatre (1760) featured oblique angled side-wings, which burned down in 1772. A new Amsterdam theatre with similar side-wing design also burned down in 1892.
Advancements in Stage Machinery
- Aleotti's movable wings at Teatro Farnese became standard in European theatres. They allowed for changing side-wings and dipping candle-light on stage.
- Machinery was used to create moving clouds on stage, as well as other special effects like fireworks. Joseph Furttenbach documented these techniques in 1640.
Theatrical Spectacles
This section focuses on grandiose theatrical spectacles that took place during performances.
The Wedding Party at Teatro Farnese
- The inauguration of Teatro Farnese included a grand spectacle play called "Mercury and Mars" with elaborate performances both on stage and in the orchestra. It featured descending gods and goddesses, a tournament with forty horsemen, and a naval battle scene with knights mounted on dolphins.
- Unfortunately, no pictures of this wedding party for the son of the duke of Farnese have survived. However, it is believed that "flying" Mercury descending from the ceiling stole the show.
Ancient Greek Influence
- The use of a 'deus-ex-machina apparatus' to lower actors from above was known to ancient Greeks and was also used in Teatro Farnese. This apparatus was called a 'geranos' or 'machina'.