Street theatre facts for kids
Street theatre is a type of play performed in outdoor public spaces. These shows happen without a special stage or a paying audience. You can find street theatre almost anywhere! This includes shopping centers, parking lots, parks, or even street corners. It's especially popular in busy places where lots of people gather.
The people who perform street theatre can be anything from buskers (who perform for tips) to organized theatre groups. Sometimes, these groups want to try out new ways of performing. Other times, they might want to promote their regular shows. Long ago, street plays helped share information when there was no TV or radio. Today, street plays often share important messages with the crowd watching. It's seen as a very pure form of acting. This is because performers usually don't use microphones or loud speakers. They rely on their natural voices and physical skills.
Sometimes, performers are hired for special events. These can be street festivals, children's shows, or parades. But often, street theatre performers are not paid a set amount. They might earn money if people in the audience drop coins into a hat.
Street theatre needs simple costumes and props. Performers often don't have sound amplification. This means actors depend on their strong voices and physical abilities. Because of this, physical theatre is very popular outdoors. This includes dance, mime, and slapstick. Shows need to be easy to see, loud, and simple to understand. This helps them attract a crowd.
Street theatre is different from other outdoor plays. For example, a play in a park might have a special roped-off area. It might also require a ticket to watch. Street theatre is usually open and free for everyone. In some places, street performers need a license or special permission. They get this from local or state governments. Many performers even travel around the world to famous street performance spots.
Street theatre is probably the oldest type of theatre we know. Many popular entertainment forms started with street performing. This includes religious passion plays. More recently, performers who used to work in variety theatres or vaudeville now perform professionally on the streets. Famous performers like Robin Williams, David Bowie, and Jewel started their careers in street theatre.
Street theatre makes traditional plays available to everyone. It helps people who might not be able to afford tickets or go to a regular theatre. The audience is usually anyone who wants to stop and watch. Most performances are free public entertainment.
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Why Perform on the Street?
Some artists choose to perform on the street for important reasons.
Sharing Important Messages
Artists who care about social issues often perform on the street. They do this to directly connect with people. They want to share their ideas or make people think. They might feel that regular theatre audiences don't represent everyone. Performing on the street lets them reach more people. It's a way to share their art with "the person on the street." This makes it a more open way to share ideas.
Keeping Traditions Alive
Some street theatre artists study old traditions. These include Carnival and commedia dell'arte. They want to perform these styles in a way that feels like their original setting. The street offers a different kind of space than a normal theatre. It has its own special energy. Street theatre is not just a lesser form of indoor theatre. It's a unique art form with its own power.
Combining Art with Protest
Many theatre groups use street theatre for political reasons. They combine their performances with protests. For example, groups like the San Francisco Mime Troupe and The Living Theatre used "guerrilla theatre." This was a surprise, often political, performance. The Bread and Puppet Theatre used colorful parades. Groups like Ashesh Malla and the Sarwanam Theatre Group in Nepal also use street theatre to make statements.
Character-Based Street Theatre
In the 1960s and 1970s, a new type of street theatre grew. Groups like Lumiere and Son and Natural Theatre Company created it. Their shows were often a surprise. They featured characters acting out a planned story. These characters might look beautiful or strange. They might also just talk to people passing by. They didn't try to trick anyone. Instead, they invited the audience to play along with them. No amount of planning could fully control what would happen.
For example, the Natural Theatre Company had a "Pink Suitcase" show. Smartly dressed people carrying bright pink suitcases would enter streets or buildings. They would search for their friends and miss them. During their search, they might get on buses or hail cabs. They might even end up in shop windows. When they finally met up, often with help from people passing by, the area felt different. Shopping might stop for a few moments. This kind of humor works everywhere. This show has been performed in almost seventy countries. It usually has four or five actors, but sometimes up to twenty-five.
Interactive Street Theatre
Interactive street theatre mixes two art forms: street theatre and interactive art.
What Makes it Interactive?
Unlike other interactive art, this type of theatre happens outdoors in public places. It's often seen at festivals. The audience is made up of people passing by. They stop and join in if they want to. This kind of performance is usually short, lasting only a few hours. It's very easy to join in. Many people who have never been to a theatre or museum can take part.
Some interactive art installations let visitors walk inside, on, or around them. They might also let people play with the art. Another way interactive theatre works is by making the audience part of the artwork. In some interactive street theatre, the audience becomes an active part of the show. They work with the artist to create a wonderful piece of art together.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro de calle para niños
- Barn theatre
- Carros de foc
- Close-Act Theatre
- Freak show
- Medicine show
- One-Mensch-Theater
- Royal de luxe
- Sideshow
- Street musician
