''For other usages see Theatre (disambiguation)

Theatre or theater (Greek "theatron", "θέατρον") is the branch of the performing arts concerned with acting out stories in front of an audience using combinations of speech, gesture, music, dance, sound and spectacle — indeed any one or more elements of the other performing arts. In addition to the standard narrative dialogue style, theatre takes such forms as opera, ballet, mime, kabuki, classical Indian dance, Chinese opera, mummers' plays, and pantomime.

Overview of theatre

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"Drama" (literally translated, Action, from a verbal root meaning "I do") is that branch of theatre in which speech, either from written text (plays), or improvised is paramount. "Musical theatre" is a form of theatre combining music, songs, dance routines, and spoken dialogue. However, theatre is more than just what one sees on stage. Theatre involves an entire world behind the scenes that creates the costumes, sets and lighting to make the overall effect interesting. There is a particularly long tradition of political theatre, intended to educate audiences on contemporary issues and encourage social change. Various creeds, Catholicism for instance, have built upon the entertainment value of theatre and created (for example) passion plays, mystery plays and morality plays.

There is an enormous variety of philosophies, artistic processes, and theatrical approaches to creating plays and drama. Some are connected to political or spiritual ideologies, and some are based on purely "artistic" concerns. Some processes focus on a story, some on theatre as an event, some on theatre as a catalyst for social change. According to Aristotle's seminal theatrical critique Poetics, there are six elements necessary for theatre. They are Plot, Character, Idea, Language, Song, and Spectacle. The 17th-century Spanish writer Lope de Vega wrote that for theatre one needs "three boards, two actors, and one passion". Others notable for their contribution to theatrical philosophy are Konstantin Stanislavski, Antonin Artaud, Bertolt Brecht, Orson Welles, Peter Brook, Jerzy Grotowski.

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Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:52:28 -0000
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Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:04:45 -0000
Russia introduces its own draft UN Security Council resolution on Georgia, a day after rejecting a rival French document.

NYT > Europe

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Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:31:46 -0000
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Georgian Crisis Brings Attitude Change to a Flush Poland
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:51:58 -0000
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Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:54:41 -0000
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L.A. Times - Europe

Russia to keep soldiers in Georgia
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Moscow plans to set up 18 checkpoints, some in Georgia proper, a Kremlin official says. The plan appears to violate the terms of a cease-fire. Russia plans to establish a long-term presence in Georgia and one of its breakaway republics by adding 18 checkpoints, including at least eight within undisputed Georgian territory outside the pro-Russian enclave of South Ossetia, a ranking Russian military official told reporters Wednesday.
NATO calls Russia's use of force in Georgia 'disproportionate'
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Diplomatic moves to isolate Moscow come as Russian troops continue to show little sign of abiding by an agreement to withdraw from Georgia. The Western military alliance Tuesday began curtailing ties with Russia for its "disproportionate" use of force in Georgia, but the foreign ministers at an emergency gathering of North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries stopped short of agreeing to rearm the beleaguered state or to take other such tough measures.
Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili seems to take over TV news
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
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UN News Centre - Europe

International Criminal Court monitoring events in Georgia, Prosecutor says
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court confirmed today that his Office is analysing information related to alleged crimes committed in Georgia in recent weeks that fall under the Court's jurisdiction.
UN agencies continue to rush aid to Georgia
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
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Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
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Europe - International Herald Tribune

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West baffled by 2 heads for Russian government
By Steven Lee Myers and Thom Shanker Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:24:32 -0000
American officials concede that they do not completely understand the balance of power within the new Russian leadership.

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