Revolving Stage

Definition

• A revolving stage is a mechanically controlled platform within a theatre designed to rotate, allowing for speedy scene changes during performances.

Historical Background

Kabuki Theatre Development

• Origin: Kabuki theatre began around 1603 in Japan by Okuni, a Shinto priestess.
• Performance Evolution:
  • Initially performed on makeshift stages in riverbeds.
  • Gained popularity, performing at the imperial court.
  • Permanent theatre established in 1604, inspired by aristocratic Noh theatre.
  • Became a mix of social classes, troubling the Tokugawa Shogunate.
• Regulations:
  • 1629: Women banned from performing.
  • 1652: Complete ban, later lifted with restrictions in 1654, only adult men allowed to perform.

Innovation of Mawari-butai

• Invention: Created by Edo playwright, Nakimi Shozo, in 1729.
• Purpose: Solved moving heavy scenic properties quickly and maintained audience interest.
• Operation: Originally manually operated by stagehands; evolved to be flush with the stage by the 1800s.
• Functionality:
  • Allowed for different settings and changes in mood or time within a scene.
  • Enhanced narrative possibilities, e.g., long journeys, sea battles.
• Aesthetic Influence: Encouraged a decorated rather than realistic space.

Impact on Western Theatre

• Introduction: Post-Meiji Restoration, Japanese art influenced European theatre.
• Adoption:
  • 1896: Karl Lautenschlager built the first revolving stage in Western theatre for Mozart's Don Giovanni.
  • Used in Shakespeare productions, spreading to Germany and Russia.
• Modern Usage:
  • Automation allows for more possibilities in shows like Cats, Les Miserables, and Hamilton.

Key Innovations

• Concentric Revolve: Allows multiple rings to rotate in different speeds/directions.
• Stage Lifts: Combined with revolving stage for enhanced visual effects.

Contemporary Applications

• Theatre and Music Festivals: Fast setup and teardown for rapid band transitions.
• Marketing and Trade Shows: Modular designs for quick setup and rotational displays.
• Notable Uses:
  • Hamilton: Double-rotating stages.
  • Carousel of Progress: Stationary stage with rotating auditorium.

Conclusion

• Revolving stages remain an integral part of both traditional and modern theatre, enhanced by automation and innovative designs.