1 Awesome History Of Western Theatre Timeline And Infographic

The history of Western theatre contains nine significant periods, some of which are better known than others. Scholars generally agree that these periods are:

Greek Theatre
Roman Theatre
Medieval Theatre
Renaissance Theatre
Neoclassical Theatre
Romantic Theatre
Modern Theatre
Postmodern Theatre
Contemporary Theatre

While some scholars will argue over approximate dates, the table I have created below is a good starting point. There is always scope to add greater depth, but I have tried to balance a sufficient quantity of information with the ability to view it at a glance. Each period details dates, characteristics, cultural context, notable works, and legacy. Below the table is a professional print-quality classroom wall poster that complements it. Enjoy!

This table is responsive, but is best viewed on a laptop or desktop.

Period	Dates	Characteristics	Works	Cultural Context	Legacy
Greek Theatre	6th century BCE - 4th century BCE	Religious festivals in honor of Dionysus Chorus played a significant role, commenting on the action Use of masks Tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays Outdoor amphitheatres Only male actors	Aeschylus (The Oresteia) Sophocles (Oedipus Rex, Antigone) Euripides (Medea, The Bacchae) Aristophanes (Lysistrata, The Clouds)	Rise of Athenian democracy Importance of mythology and religion Philosophical inquiry (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle) Peloponnesian War (impact on tragedy) Emphasis on civic duty and the role of the individual within the state	Foundation of Western drama Development of dramatic genres (tragedy, comedy) Influence on Roman theatre and later periods Exploration of universal themes (fate, justice, revenge) Architectural influence of amphitheatres
Roman Theatre	3rd century BCE - 5th century CE	Adapted Greek forms More emphasis on spectacle and entertainment Stock characters Mime and pantomime became popular Less emphasis on the chorus ntroduction of fabula palliata and fabula togata	Plautus (The Menaechmi, Pseudolus) Terence (The Eunuch, The Brothers) Seneca (Thyestes, Phaedra)	Roman Republic and Empire Influence of Greek culture Emphasis on public entertainment and spectacle Rise of Christianity (eventually led to the decline of theatre) Social and political satire	Further development of comedy Influence on Renaissance theatre (especially Plautus and Terence) Development of stock characters Preservation of some Greek dramatic texts Architectural innovations in theatre design
Medieval Theatre	5th century CE - 15th century CE	Liturgical drama (religious plays performed in churches) Mystery plays (biblical stories) Miracle plays (lives of saints) Morality plays (allegorical dramas about virtue and vice) Cycle plays. Pageant wagons	Anonymous authors (mostly) The Second Shepherds' Play Everyman The Castle of Perseverance	Dominance of the Catholic Church Feudal system Black Death (impact on worldview) Rise of guilds (sponsors of plays) Limited literacy; theatre as a means of religious instruction	Transition from religious to secular drama Development of vernacular drama Use of allegory and symbolism Early forms of stagecraft and special effects Community involvement in theatrical productions
Renaissance Theatre	14th century - 17th century CE	Revival of classical learning Humanism Professional acting companies Development of proscenium arch Elaborate costumes and scenery Commedia dell'arte (Italy) Elizabethan and Jacobean drama (England)	William Shakespeare (Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet) Christopher Marlowe (Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine) Ben Jonson (Volpone, The Alchemist)	Renaissance humanism Reformation and Counter-Reformation Rise of nation-states Exploration and colonisation Scientific Revolution (beginnings) Patronage of the arts by royalty and nobility	Development of modern theatre Emphasis on character psychology Use of blank verse and prose Exploration of complex themes (ambition, love, revenge) Influence on subsequent dramatic literature The rise of professional theatre and playwrights
Neoclassical Theatre	17th century - 18th century CE	Emphasis on reason and order. Adherence to the "unities" (time, place, action). Decorum and verisimilitude. Formal language and structure. Influence of French Academy. Restoration comedy (England).	Pierre Corneille (Le Cid). Jean Racine (Phèdre) Molière (Tartuffe, The Misanthrope) John Dryden (All for Love). William Congreve (The Way of the World)	Age of Enlightenment Rise of absolute monarchies Scientific Revolution Emphasis on reason and logic Social hierarchy and decorum	Emphasis on structure and form Development of dramatic theory Influence on 18th-century opera Reaction against Neoclassicism led to Romanticism Refinement of dramatic language and style
Romantic Theatre	Late 18th century - 19th century CE	Emphasis on emotion and individualism Rejection of Neoclassical rules Focus on nature and the sublime Melodrama Historical dramas Closet dramas	Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Faust) Friedrich Schiller (The Robbers) Victor Hugo (Hernani) George Büchner (Woyzeck)	French Revolution Industrial Revolution Rise of nationalism Reaction against Enlightenment rationalism Emphasis on individual experience and emotion	Break from Neoclassical constraints Exploration of individual experience Development of Melodrama Influence on 19th-century opera (Wagner) Emphasis on emotional expression and spectacle
Modern Theatre	Late 19th century - mid-20th century CE	Realism and naturalism Problem plays (social issues) Symbolism Expressionism Theatre of the Absurd Epic Theatre	Henrik Ibsen (A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler) Anton Chekhov (The Seagull, Uncle Vanya) August Strindberg (Miss Julie, A Dream Play) George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion, Man and Superman)	Industrialisation and urbanisation World Wars I and II Rise of psychology (Freud, Jung) Social and political upheaval Technological advancements	Development of realistic and psychological drama Exploration of social and political issues Experimentation with form and styl Influence on contemporary theatre Break from traditional dramatic conventions
Postmodern Theatre	Mid-20th century - late 20th century CE	Rejection of grand narratives Fragmentation and deconstruction Metatheatre Intertextuality Blurring of genres	Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot, Endgame) Eugène Ionesco (The Bald Soprano, Rhinoceros) Harold Pinter (The Birthday Party, Betrayal) Tom Stoppard (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Arcadia)	Cold War Postcolonialism Civil rights movements Rise of consumer culture Questioning of authority and traditional values	Challenge to traditional theatrical conventions Exploration of language and meaning Emphasis on audience interpretation Influence on contemporary performance art Deconstruction of established dramatic forms
Contemporary Theatre	Late 20th century - Present	Diversity of styles and approaches Multiculturalism and globalisation New media and technology Political and social activism Immersive theatre Devised theatre	Sarah Kane (Blasted, 4.48 Psychosis) Caryl Churchill (Top Girls, Cloud Nine) Tony Kushner (Angels in America) Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights) Many others	Globalisation Digital age Identity politics Environmental concerns Ongoing social and political change	Continued experimentation and innovation Reflection of contemporary society Engagement with diverse audiences Use of new technologies Blurring of boundaries between theatre and other art forms