History of the development of theater architecture: (5th century BC – beginning of the 20th century)

Abstract

The article analyzes the stages of formation and development of theater architecture (from antiquity to 1900) in accordance with the evolution of culture, historical, social and economic development of human society. A description of the technologies of the theater building of different eras, its design and construction norms are presented. The authors made an attempt to explain the evolution of architectural styles of theater buildings from ancient times to modern times. It helps to understand the influence of cultural, technological and social factors on architectural decisions. The impact of the development of architectural styles in the construction of theaters of different eras on cultural heritage is also considered. The authors emphasize the need for a comprehensive coverage of the importance of considering the architectural features of theater buildings as part of the cultural heritage of various peoples and eras. For this purpose, the authors reviewed architectural masterpieces that have become symbols of their cities or countries. The authors separately considered the issue of technical progress in the construction of theaters at different times. This part of the article is devoted to explaining the technological innovations that influenced theater architecture, such as improved acoustics, lighting, and construction methods. Also, the authors of the article reviewed modern trends in the use of materials and energy-efficient solutions. The article analyzes the relationship between the development of theater architecture and social aspects, such as changes in audience tastes, the role of theater in society, and the reflection of political and cultural trends in buildings. The authors of the article attempted to determine the influence of theater architecture on modern architecture and society. In particular, an overview of the influence of the heritage of outstanding architects of theater buildings and their contribution to the development of architecture in general is made. The article shows that the expansion of the typological structure of the architecture of various theaters created the prerequisites for a variety of compositional schemes and a fundamentally different presentation of architectural tasks. Different city-building conditions, typological foundations and individual characteristics of the theater led to the appearance of new buildings that contrast in their structure, style and means of artistic expression. Historical experience shows that theater architecture is as inexhaustible as theater art, as inexhaustible and complex multi-meaning concept of theater.