The essence of good theater is simplicity itself: believable characters, gripping stories and a seamless, convincing production. To understand how to achieve this we need to understand the roots of theater. In this engaging and informative program we take a comprehensive look at the history of theater and drama, taking students from the ancient Greeks to the medieval Mystery plays, from the Renaissance to the Restoration, finishing up with Modern Theater, exploring different play styles, staging and acting. This is a brilliant overview of theater that stands alone or can be used as a stimulus for devised work, further research projects or for developing a better understanding of historical context. (This program has been created from an English perspective.).

Originally released by Video Education America (VEA), 2009. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on May 07, 2015.

It's All Greek to Me (8:24); --Mystery & Processions (3:54); -- Commedia & Renaissance (5:01); -- Restoration (5:25); -- Modern Theater (7:13); -- Greek Drama Introduction (6:42); -- Greek Drama (5:50); -- Greek Drama Introduction (5:50); -- History of Theater Myths (5:50); -- Medieval Theatre "Mystery and Processions Clip (3:56); .