The Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of the first western thinkers to write a theory of theatre. Although theatre has evolved beyond the scope of Aristotle’s model, some of his ideas still resonate today. His writing on theatre appears in his Poetics.

• Imitation of Life

Aristotle’s foundational concept in the Poetics revolves around the idea of mimesis, or imitation. He believed that theatre, at its core, is a reflection of life, capturing the essence of human actions, emotions, and experiences. According to Aristotle, the purpose of theatre is to imitate life and evoke emotions in the audience.

• Catharsis

The concept of catharsis holds a pivotal place in Aristotle’s view of theatre. He argued that through the emotional engagement with a play, the audience experiences catharsis, a purgation or cleansing of emotions. Theatre, in Aristotle’s view, has the power to evoke pity and fear, allowing the audience to undergo a transformative emotional experience.

• Unity of Action, Time, and Place

Another core tenet is the importance of unity in a theatrical work. He proposed that a play should have a single, unified plot, unfolding within a specific time frame and a confined space. This principle aimed at intensifying the emotional impact on the audience, fostering a more concentrated and potent experience.

• Complex Characters and Plot

He praised the significance of well-developed characters and intricate plots in a theatrical production. He argued that characters should exhibit moral complexity, embodying a mix of virtues and vices. Similarly, the plot should be structured in a way that engages the audience intellectually and emotionally, leading to a cathartic resolution.

• Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

Aristotle’s definition of theatre has influenced countless playwrights, directors, and scholars throughout history. The appeal of his ideas is in formulating an “essence” of theatre. That essence has been challenged over time, perhaps most vehemently in the 20th century, in the work of Bertolt Brecht (amongst others), who made a clean break with the ideas of mimesis and unity, towards a theatre that jolts the audience out of its rapture with illusion and into a mode of commentary about actions and consequences in the present moment.

• Last word

Aristotle’s exploration of theatre in Poetics remains a valid testament to the enduring power of dramatic arts. His insights into the imitation of life, the purgative nature of emotions, and the importance of unity still hold sway over western theatre, despite new evolutionary branches in this art form.