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Theatre Arts for Advanced Secondary Schools

(b) Expression of universal themes: Symbolism surpasses boundaries,
cultures and language barriers by involving universal symbols and
metaphors that echo the background and context of audiences worldwide.
Through symbolic imagery, theatre can address timeless themes such as
love, death and identity in ways that are accessible and profound.
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(c) Establishment of atmosphere and mood: Symbolism is used in theatre to
evoke moods, atmosphere and emotions. It is through symbolic staging,
lighting, sound and costume design that directors can create experiences
that lead audiences into the world of the play and evoke a range of
emotions from wonder to fear.

(d) Encouraging creativity: Symbolism gives artists a room for creativity.
By embracing non-literal representation, abstract imagery and
interdisciplinary approaches, playwrights and directors can create and
innovate works that challenge conventional norms and expand the
possibilities for theatrical expression.

Activity 1.4

Watch a symbolic theatre performance online or read a play with strong
symbolic elements, then identify and document occurrences of symbolism you
have observed during the performance or within the text.

Theatre of the absurd
Theatre of the absurd is a movement in drama that emerged in the 1950s and
1960s in Europe. Theatrical works focused largely on the idea of existentialism
and expressed what happens when human existence has no meaning or purpose
and when all communication breaks down. Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco,
Jean Genet and Arthur Adamov are among the pioneers of theatre of the absurd.
Theatre of absurd uses tragicomedy as a genre for communicating message to
the intended audience. The dialogue of the most of the theatre of absurd plays is
naturalistic and themes of the plays range from absence, emptiness, nothingness
and unresolved mysteries. Story always focusses on human beings trapped in
a mysterious world attempting to confront anything no matter how illogical.
The mysterious theme is coupled with the inadequacy of language to form
meaningful human connection. Theme of theatre of the absurd may be seen as
nonsense, yet it has something to say to the idea of human existence. Language in

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