Types and genres of theatrical art in modern Ukraine
Theater is a synthetic genre of art in which life events are transformed into stage action right before the eyes of the audience. It combines the creative efforts of the playwright, director, actors, artists and many other specialists. As a result, a single stage space is formed.The origins of this phenomenon date back to Ancient Greece, and today theatrical art belongs to the seven classical forms of creativity along with literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, music and cinema. That is why, when talking about what theatrical art is, it is worth mentioning its unique ability to combine different types and genres of art, forming a holistic work of art.
Types and genres of art: from musical to immersive theater
Modern reality convincingly demonstrates: Ukrainian theatrical art is capable of creating musical and dramatic performances that confidently compete with works on the world stage. Large-scale festivals are held in Ukraine every year - from the Kyiv Pectoral and the Golden Lion to GogolFest and Ternopil Theater Evenings. In 2018, the National Union of Theater Workers of Ukraine established the prestigious Great Real Art (GRA) festival-award with six key nominations that recognize the best artistic achievements. Ukrainian directors are increasingly making themselves known in the world, and performances by our theaters are selling out both abroad and at home.All this emphasizes the powerful development of the industry, the emergence of new forms, as well as the renewal of traditional types of theatrical art, which are enriched with modern practices and fresh artistic approaches.
Theatrical art in Ukraine encompasses dramatic productions, musical and ballet performances, experimental shows and performances that combine the latest technologies, media capabilities and social context. Theater groups work with themes of national identity, social challenges and political processes. Therefore, today the types and genres of theatrical art are changing and complementing, forming a wide range of directions - from classical drama to performative installations.
What types and genres of theatrical art define the modern stage and how do they differ from traditional ideas about theater? Next, we will consider the most popular forms that characterize Ukrainian theater today.
Types of theatrical art developing in Ukraine:
- Dramatic theater (performances). It is based on dramatic works. The main means of expression are acting and speech;
- musical theater (opera, musical). It is a combination of music, singing, and acting;
- puppet theater. The main characters are puppets controlled by puppeteer actors;
- Ballet. It occupies a prominent place among the types and genres of theatrical art. Ballet harmoniously combines dance, music, and pantomime;
- Experimental theater. Departing from classical forms and traditions, it introduces bold experiments with the form, content, and nature of interaction with the audience. Experimental theater combines various genres of oratory, as well as types and genres of choreographic art.
Modern genres of theater art:
- one-man show (one actor on stage);
- musical (emphasis on contemporary music, often with jazz, rock and pop motifs);
- immersive theater (a genre of art characterized by the viewer's involvement in events on stage, when there is no boundary between the stage and the audience);
- interactive theater (in addition to the feeling of involvement, the viewer gets the opportunity to influence the development of the plot);
- performance (one of the genres of art in which the stage goes far beyond the usual theatrical space. These are often productions that take place in atypical locations - on the streets, in factories, in abandoned buildings - as well as performances without classical dramaturgy, plastic projects, actions with live music, interactive interaction with the audience, installations or modern technologies. Therefore, performance encompasses everything that is based on artistic experimentation and a bold rethinking of theater and enriches the types and genres of theatrical art).