preview

The Power Amongst The Noh Theatre

Better Essays

The word Noh is derived from the Sino-Japanese word for “skill” or “talent”, which is exactly what theatre brings to an audience, whether it is a show off of Broadway that everyone knows and loves, or a local high school production of a new play or a world premiere no one has ever heard of. The Noh plays of Japan have been compared to the greatest of Greek tragedies for their meaningful, powerful poetry and splendidness of emotional intensity. The Noh Theatre is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the mid-14th century. “Stemming from the popular entertainments in Nara during the Heian period (794-1185), in conjunction with various ritual offering dances, Noh was created during the latter half of the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and the early part of the Muromachi period 1336-1573” (Introducing the World of Noh). This old tradition of theatre is still relevant and can still be performed today. But what really brings towards the power amongst the Noh Theatre? Is it the costuming and the masks that the performers would often wear? Is it the design of the set and the plot of the story that makes plays so intriguing? Is it the sounds of the musical instruments played on-stage along with a chorus or underlying vocals to back things up? With all of this power from the Noh theatre, there must be a “key” aspect that keeps everything held together without the famous Japanese theatre from falling apart and what makes the theatre feel so real.

Get Access