UW Drama Library Featured Books: Featured Books

This volume provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of the rich traditions of noh, classical Japanese dance-drama. Drawing from specialized scholarship in English and in Japanese, it takes an accessible approach useful for a range of readers, including students and researchers of Japanese culture and performing arts, as well as theatre practitioners. The introduction provides an overview, describing noh from the point of view of both the audience and the practitioner. Chapter One traces the history of noh from its origins through stages of development and formalization to the present day. Chapter Two explores the different plays in the repertoire, discussing their structures, themes, and sources. Chapter Three delves into the staging conventions of noh, introducing aspects of movement, music, and chant, as well as costumes, masks, and stage properties. To conclude, this book raises questions about the current situation of noh and explores its potential future. Since its emergence in the 14th century, noh has been appreciated by audiences ranging from the intellectual elites to the warrior class, from the Buddhist clergy to commoners. Throughout its history, noh has influenced other traditional performing arts and, since the early 20th century, it has also been a source of inspiration for theatre practitioners outside of Japan.

This book provides an insight into the life of a professional lighting designer, through interviews with lighting designers at different stages of their careers plus a group interview with the designer and lighting team of the hit musical Billy Elliot. The designers featured are : Neil Austin, Natasha Chivers, Jon Clark, Paule Constable, Rick Fisher, Richard Howell, Howard Hudson, Jessica Hung Han Yun, Mark Jonathan, Amy Mae, Ben Ormerod, Bruno Poet, Jackie Shemesh and Johanna Town. Between them, they have worked all over the world on shows of every genre - collecting many awards for their work along the way. They share inspiration and practical advice, useful to anyone embarking on a career in lighting, offering insights into: approaching a new design; dealing with the challenges each new show brings, from working with a new director to being part of a creative team in realising a piece; the use of light and dark, colour and texture; managing collaborations, with directors, designers and their own team of associate and assistant lighting designers, programmers and electricians and beyond the art and craft of lighting, the practicalities of a lighting career - moving from just getting enough work to pay the bills, to lighting the world's biggest shows.