Realism in Theatre and Opera

Realism in theatre was a general movement during the 19^th century, which aimed to show ordinary life on sage through text and performances. It was similar to the ‘naturalism’ movement and focused on everyday drama, normal speech, and mundane settings.

Henrik Ibsen is often referred as the ‘father of theatre realism’ and is one of the founders of Modernism Theatre, and is said to have influenced other notable playwrights such as Oscar Wilde and Arthur Miller. One of his most famous plays is 'A Doll's House'  - which was critical towards 19th century marriage and a woman's place in a male dominated male society.

Henrik Ibsen

The Moscow Art Theatre has also be linked to Theatre Realism where Constantin Stanislavski is said to have played a big part in influencing the psychological realism movement in Russia.

Realism also impacted Opera, where it is known as ‘Verismo’ the Italian word for ‘true’ in which they hoped to bring influential 19^th century writers to Opera, depiciting everyday life especially those amongst the lower classes and rejecting subjects of associated with Romanticism.

Bizets Opera ‘Carmen’ is a prime example of Versimo/Realism Opera as instead of the libretto being the upper class it is in the factory workers, soldiers, prostitutes and bullfighters.

Georges Bizet

 Sources:
http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n79-70050
http://art.theatre.ru/english/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verismo