Outline the background and theatre style of Commedia dell arte with reference to practical drama lessons
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Commedia dell'arte, from its humble beginnings in the late 1500s, evolved into a form of theatre that influenced dozens of playwrights and a countless number of performers. Its influences can still be seen today, as the basic traits of many of its stock characters are still pre-eminent in many famous characters today. Commedia dell'arte began in Italy, with performances in open town squares and carnivals. They never had any script, but a basic outline, which led to a different performance each time. This new and original type of theatre required skilled performers who were not only athletic, but also clever.
The type of performance one would expect out of a commedia dell'arte troupe would be one that was loud, colourful, and energetic. If they had a stage, the background would be simple with a painting of streets and houses on a canvas. The performers used an overdramatic style of acting with wide gestures and elaborate mime. This use of mime could have been a result of language barriers when the commedia dell'arte troupes moved into France and central Europe. The actors also heavily used acrobatics to entertain their audience...