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  • In pictures

The original drama of operating theatres

Medicine as ‘theatre’ began in the 16th century, when paying audiences enjoyed candlelight, live music – and a cadaver being dissected in front of them, all the in name of education.

  • Article

Crime drama and the realistic cadaver

Today we are accustomed to the increasingly realistic look of dead bodies in on-screen dramas. Special-effects expert Hildegunn M S Traa reveals how crime and morgue scenes reflect the social idea of death.

  • Article

Shakespeare’s cholerics were the real drama queens

In Shakespeare’s times, people’s personalities were categorised by four temperaments. The choleric temperament was hot-tempered and active.

  • Article

Acting, disableism and inclusive theatre

Deaf theatre director Jenny Sealey discusses inclusivity, community and the resilience of disabled actors.

All stories (27)

Images

  • Three actors in a scene from a contemporary drama. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.
  • Siam (Thailand): a khon (masked dance drama) and lakhon (acting) troupe. Photograph by John Thomson, 1865.
  • Siam (Thailand): a khon (masked dance drama) and lakhon (acting) troupe. Photograph by John Thomson, 1865.
  • Actors in a confrontation by a river from a contemporary drama. Colour woodcut by Kunisada II, 1857.
  • The rap port, an advertisement about literature, drama, videos, rap sessions and AIDS information available in Trinidad and Tobago. Colour lithograph, ca. 1995.
  • A medical drama: a film director talks to actors playing a surgeon, a nurse and a patient. Oil painting by John Heseltine, ca. 1975/1980.
  • A medical drama: a film director talks to actors playing a surgeon, a nurse and a patient. Oil painting by John Heseltine, ca. 1975/1980.
  • On Monday, July 19th, 1869 & every evening until further notice : the performance will commencewith (Wednesday and Thursday excepted) the interesting drama, in four acts, entitled - the Black Doctor : acts I. and II. the island of Bourbon, 1788 ... / Grecian Theatre ... City Road.
  • Positively for this night only! : Surrey Theatre. This present Monday, the 12th of May, 1823, will be presented the highly-popular melo drama, taken from the play of the Mountaineers, Octavian, by a professional gentleman ... for this night only will be exhibited the two real esquimaux indians from the frozen regions where Captain Parry is making discoveries ...
  • The dance of death: the dram shop. Coloured aquatint after T. Rowlandson, 1816.
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