How is Noh performed?
Noh is performed on a square stage with a roof that is supported at its four corners by pillars. All sides of the stage are open except for the back side which consists of a wall with a painted image of a pine tree. A bridge runs at an oblique angle off the stage for performers to enter the stage.
What can be found under Noh stages?
Noh theatres are indoors but have a roof and pillars, as well as pebbles between the stage and the audience, because they have inherited the style of Noh stage dating back to when Nohgaku was performed outdoors.
What is the stage proper called in Noh Theatre?
kensho
It can be said that when the shite and hayashi enter this area, the noh has begun. The audience seating area in a noh theatre is called the kensho. The seats located in front of the stage are called shōmen, while the seats on the left side of the stage are called the waki shōmen.
What is the difference between Noh and Kyogen?
Kyogen is the classical comic theater which balances the more serious Noh. While Noh is musical in nature, Kyogen emphasizes dialogue. The two are traditionally performed alternately on the same program and they share a common heritage.
Why are Noh masks used?
Noh masks signify the characters’ gender, age, and social ranking, and by wearing masks the actors may portray youngsters, old men, female, or nonhuman (divine, demonic, or animal) characters.
What are the five types of Noh play?
Noh can be divided into five different categories: god, man, woman, mad-woman, demon. In a full noh program, on noh from each category would be played. This is known as goban date.
What types of skills would a noh performer need?
Tasks such as negotiating with co-performers and venues and preparations for tickets are mostly carried out by leading actors. Leading actors are required to have multifunctional skills not only in performance but in management and production.
What types of skills would a Noh performer need?
What are the five categories of Noh drama?
Why do Noh performers wear masks?
Masks are very important in the Noh and are worn only by the main character. The mask helps to raise the action out of the ordinary, to freeze it in time. For the Noh actor the mask of a particular character has almost a magic power.
What do you need to know about the Noh stage?
The noh stage is an extremely simple space in which there is no curtain between the playing area and the audience. Originally, noh was played in open fields. In order to retain the idea of performing outdoors, the modern noh stage, though fashioned indoors, is designed complete with details such as a roof, bridge with a handrail
Who are the performers in the Noh theater?
A bridge runs at an oblique angle off the stage for performers to enter the stage. Noh used to be typically staged outdoors, but recently modern indoor theaters have also become a common venue. All performers in noh are male.
What kind of wood is the Noh stage made out of?
The noh stage is constructed from hinoki (Japanese cypress). At the back of the stage is the kagami-ita (back panel, usually displaying a painted pine tree). In the front of the stage is the kizahashi (decorative staircase). Coming off the left side of the stage is the hashigakari (bridgeway).
Where is the kagami ita on the Noh stage?
At the back of the stage is the kagami-ita (back panel, usually displaying a painted pine tree). In the front of the stage is the kizahashi (decorative staircase). Coming off the left side of the stage is the hashigakari (bridgeway). At the end of the hashigakari is the agemaku (curtain) which marks the entrance to the backstage area.