A remains of a small Indian theatre puts it parallel to greek theatrical arts

[W.11]

An ancient small indian theater Sitabenga cave, constructed as a small amphitheatre has been identified dating from 3rd century BC in the Indian state of Chattisgarh. The theatre consists of a cresent shaped benches with aisles in between with a centre stage constructed using stones which is reached via stairs. The whole arrangement is semicircular just like a greek theatre. There are post holes provided for setting up stage curtain as well

in comparison, the oldest remains of a greek theater dates back to 4th century BC, although its stated that the place was being used as theater as far back as 6th century BC. Greek theater seems to have formally begun in the 5th century BC.

Theatre of Dionysus

The site has been used as a theatre since the sixth century BC. The existing structure dates back to the fourth century BC

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Natyashastra which elaborates on construction of indian theater has also been dated as early as 500 BC.

The theatre predates the Nagarjunakonda theatre by ateast 500 years which was constructed in 2nd century AD.

 

[jamahir]

Maybe I am not sure or the OP is not correct. I had once read that it was the Greeks who introduced theatre into India.

 

[W.11]

that is incorrect, indian theatre has not been connected with the greek theatre except by few western scholars, most of them reject the possibility, primarily because of vast differences in their respective structures.

regards

 

[TNT]

Maybe I am not sure or the OP is not correct. I had once read that it was the Greeks who introduced theatre into India.

Indians will deny everything ans claim to have invented everything, from zero to theaters and so on.
The irony is that if they had invented so much long ago, they should have evolved into civilized humans by now but they are still just no better than monkeys and are utter morons.

 

[W.11]

encyclopedia britannica also declares Khandagiri caves as a theatre

https://www.britannica.com/art/theatre-design/Asia

Asia
India’s oldest theatre is in the Sitabenga cave at Ramgarh Hill, now in Chhattisgarh state in central India. It was built during the first half of the Hellenistic Age, between 300 and 200 BCE. This is a small theatre carved into the rock at the mouth of a cave facing out over an uncovered area just large enough for a small temporary scene building and stage. Its seating is reminiscent of a Greek odeum. The second oldest theatre in India is in the Udayagiri-Khandagiri hills of Orissa state in northeastern India. It was built during the last half of the Hellenistic period, sometime between 200 and 50 BCE, and it includes a large scene building, with an upper stage, cut into the rock. The seating area, however, was of wood, like the ikria of the Greeks, and only some marks in the stone, where support beams were likely held in place, survive. T

another theatre is at nagarjunakonda

 

[W.11]

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/socio...456192-modern-indian-theatre-a-reader-pdf.pdf

 

[Chhatrapati]

Constructed in around 400AD. Used for performing arts like Koodiyattam a Sanskrit - Tamil literature.

@Nilgiri

 

[W.11]

interestingly i watched a documentary where this kerala theatrical arts was said to be chinese derivative due to chinese trade in the indian ocean in the second millennium, the make up is said to be chinese derivative especially, even though indian theatrical arts is much more ancient than the chinese one, as a matter of fact.

regards

 

[W.11]

crash course has given much respect to some aspects of indian culture after obviously greek and roman, one is theatre, even though it comes at number seven, still immediately after greek and roman which is expected.

despite impressive ruins of greek theatre, natyashastra specifically advocates building of small and medium sized theatres and not big ones so that the audience is able to listen to the performance and is not handicapped by large designs.

regards

 

[Flash_Ninja]

WE WUZ GREEKS

 

[W.11]

mate, the opposite has been proposed not we wuz greeks, now go cry else where.

regards

 

[W.11]

here is some facts on dholavira theatre and stadium

History

The existence of these two stadiums like structures was ultimately come to be known as a result of the series of excavations undertaken by Archaeological Survey of India in the years of 1990. These stadiums will surely rewrite the history of the origin of theatre in the world. Previously theatre stadiums were considered to be a gift of Roman and Greek civilizations. These stadiums comprise of stands in every direction for the benefit of the spectators. The small sized stadium was mainly designed for accommodating people belonging to upper class society at that time. For the purpose of fulfillment of such requirement there might have been an attempt to enhance its area on a temporary basis. It is the sole reason why the small theatre structure is interconnected with the larger stadium via a single gate. The most remarkable aspect of these stadiums is that they can be adjoined through various gates along with the surrounding areas like settlements, reversion, bailey and castle. Access to outside world was quite possible due to the presence of four gates of these stadiums like structures.

https://www.compasstourism.com/destination/stadiums-in-dholavira/

 

[W.11]

theatre companies would be akin to present day warner bros, universal etc

regards

information on theatre companies and organisations in ancient india

https://books.google.com.pk/books?i...epage&q=ancient india theatre company&f=false

dramatic competitions were also held according to natyashastra, just like dramatic competitions in the greek world

https://books.google.com.pk/books?i...t&q=audiences, dramatic competitions,&f=false

 

[Chhatrapati]

interestingly i watched a documentary where this kerala theatrical arts was said to be chinese derivative due to chinese trade in the indian ocean in the second millennium, the make up is said to be chinese derivative especially, even though indian theatrical arts is much more ancient than the chinese one, as a matter of fact.

regards

Thanks. If you have any links to that article, I'll be interested in reading it. I have already seen some similarities in Tradition martial arts and Chinese martial arts. Or the presence of Chinese fishing nets that's still in use.

From my understanding, these came from Tribal customs that existed in Kerala, there are such elaborate story telling practices among tribals in Kerala but not sophisticated. This later expanded when ANI's came in with their own customs, say Natyasastra.

 

[W.11]

i thought that natyashastra was written by a south indian

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some interesting info on pre natyashastra traditions in india

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natya_Shastra#Date_and_author

surprisingly this info is not covered in sanskrit theatre history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_classical_drama

Thanks. If you have any links to that article, I'll be interested in reading it.

a long time ago probably in natgeo i watched a documentary which claimed that the kathakali make up is based on chinee opera, a dubious assertion provided natyashastra elaborates on make up as well.

regards