Black box theater
The black-box is a relatively recent innovation in the
theater, describing a simple, somewhat unadorned performance
space, usually a large square room with black walls and a flat floor.
Such spaces are easily built and maintained, and are usually home to
plays or other performances with very basic technical arrangements--
limited sets, simple lighting effects, and an intimate focus on the
story, writing, and performances rather than more costly and
extravagant production values. The seating is typically loose
chairs on platforms, which can be easily moved or removed to allow the
entire space to be adapted to the artistic elements of a production.
Typical floorplans include end stage, three quarter, and
arena.
The black-box theatre is especially favored by colleges
and other theatre training programs, because the space is versatile
and easy to change from one production to another. Many theatre
training programs will have both a large proscenium theatre, as
well as a black box theatre. Not only does this
allow them to have two productions mounted simultaneously, but they
can also have a large extravagant production in the mainstage while
having a small experiemental show in the black box.
Most older black boxes were built more like television studios, with
a low pipe grid overhead. Newer black boxes typically feature catwalks or
tension grids. The latter providing the flexibility of the pipe
grid with the accessability of a catwalk.
Black-box theatres became popular and wide spread particularly in the
1960s and 1970s, during which low cost experimental theatre
was being actively practiced as never before. Since almost any
warehouse or open space in any building can be transformed into a
black-box, the appeal for non-profit and low income artists is
high. The black-box is also considered by many to be a place where
more "pure" theatre can be explored, with the most human and least
technical elements being in focus.
See also Black box, the technical term.
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