Preliminary note and definition

Our discussion will focus on Western theatre, as the examples studied in this course are mainly drawn from it, even if performative art practices from other cultural areas than the West may also influence them.

In this context, we can define theatre as a performative art in which artists on stage represent events and actions to an audience. Works created for this art form are generally called plays; however, we also hear about theatrical creation or even theatrical montage nowadays.

The authors of these works are identified as dramatists or playwrights, and their dramatic works are transposed to the stage by directors (who may also work with a scenographer). In addition, as nowadays they are also directors of their creations, different terminologies are frequently used to name them. For example, in France, they speak of "écrivains de plateau" and in Spanish-speaking countries of "teatristas".

As far as the artists on stage are concerned, we speak of actors, comedians or performers, and if they participate in the creation of the work in which they are involved, we speak of "collective creation".