THEATRE ARTS AND EVANGELISM

THEATRE ARTS AND EVANGELISM

Theatre Arts and Drama since the beginning of its existence became the medium of evangelism. As medium of evangelism in a sense that, evangelism defines as “to bring good news”. A term originally used for secular purpose from the Greek word “evangelizomai”. In the New Testament, evangelism implies the act of proclaiming the good news. An action of proclaiming God’s wisdom or ideas communicated as a good news to the people of God, especially to the poor and the oppressed. Evangelism using the theatrical term is the act of bringing ideas or wisdom which is considered good news in a sense that it inspires, it change or transform, enlighten and empower the people who have heard or experience.

When you begin to act the bringing of good news or the ideas then that is the moment you are putting yourselves in the drama. Drama means to act or to do from the Greek word dran.  In the theater, drama involves enactment of life situations for entertainment or for the purpose of understanding oneself and others by the actors. Drama (the good news) defined also as a kind of literature intended to be performed, acted, before an audience.  The process of bringing or expressing the ideas (which is a good news) simply called the Arts, which defined as the production or expression of ideas, insights, and emotions that the artist want to communicate to his/her audience. Arts is the incarnation of ideas or wisdom of the particular person or community that the artist wants to proclaim. This ideas and the incarnation of ideas basically proclaim in a place or in a particular location intended for the ideas be proclaimed, and that what we called theatre. A term also defined as building designed for presentation of a scripted play involving acting, directing, designing, managing, and other technical aspects.

With these definitions of terms, Theatre Arts is a means of evangelism because it is a fusion of various art forms such as acting or drama, dances, music and something that you would see in the Theater proclaiming the ideas, insights, and emotions that the artist wants to communicate to his/her audience.

Throughout the centuries, theater arts and drama became a tool of productions of ideas, insights, spirituality, and faith. In short, theater arts and drama throughout the centuries became a tool of evangelism. The Greek theater where the term and performances of drama came to its existence during the 6th century BCE centers the plays mostly about their gods. During the 4th century BCE through the influence of the Greeks, Roman theatrical presentations became an effective tools of Hellenization of Roman culture. Beginning of the 10th century (Early Middle Ages), churches in Europe began staging dramatized versions of particular biblical events on specific days of the year. The church then began using drama or theatrical performance depicting the events of Holy Week, the story of Abraham, Noah, stories of the Christians saints, plays that taught moral lessons. The premises of the church were also used to present theatrical plays.

In India, the theatrical presentations became a major vehicle to promote literacy. Rabindranath Tagore was a pioneering modern playwright who wrote plays noted for their exploration and questioning of nationalism, identity, and material greed happening in India. In Latin America, the Theater arts were used to understand by the people real score of their society, be educated, enlightened and empowered towards liberation. Through theatrical presentations, they taught the peasant how to fight for their lands. In the Philippines, the Spaniards used drama as a tool evangelization and spreading the Christian faith.  This gave birth the Gran Comedia, Moro-Moro, Santacruzan, senakulo, and Zarzuela. During the American colonization, radical plays emerged which communicated the quest for freedom and liberation from the bondage of American colonizers. Radical presentations also urged the people to act on realizing their national liberation. During the Martial Law under former President Ferdinand Marcos, drama was stage in response to the prevailing atmosphere of repression. During the dictatorial regime, Protest Drama performances developed portraying the prevailing corruptions, anomaly, human rights violations and injustices of that time.  Actors then became facilitators and expositors of truth, bringers of good news in the life of the poor. Theatrical performances then served as medium of enlightenment and empowerment for the oppressed people.

WE are challenged to establish a Theater Arts Ministry not just for aesthetic purposes or for entertainment but for the empowerment and liberation of the people, especially the oppressed and the marginalized which is the thrust of the evangelistic activity of Jesus Christ. Let us be reminded that Jesus himself manifests God’s action and that we can see and meet God actively engage in the life of the people through him. Theatre Arts Ministry as means of evangelism would have a clear mission to facilitate people’s reading about the Bible, stories, aspirations, and struggles through creative movement and theatrical presentations.  Our goal is not simply to seek a lovely performance, but to communicate our Christian faith for genuine and lasting peace based on justice. ###(Rev. Jeric C. Cortado,  Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges, Inc., Mt. Apo Village, Kidapawan City, Philippines, August 21, 2014) 

Reference:

1. Abraham, Pedro. Et.al. 1991. Ang Sining ng Kasaysayang Pilipino. Philippines: UP Press.
2. Baňas, Raymundo C. 1975. Pilipino Music and Theater. Philippines: Malapaz Publishing.
3. Cloud, Fred. 1964. “Evangelism and the Creative Arts” in Evangelism and Contemporary Issues, edited by Gordon Pratt Baker. USA: Tidings.
4. Donghi, Antonio. 1997. ACTIONS AND WORDS: Symbolic Language and the Liturgy. USA: The Liturgical Press.
5. De Sola Carla. 1974. LEARNING THROUGH DANCE. USA: Paulist Press.
6. Lustre, Vicente Jr. B. 2001. “The Christian and Drama”. Edited by Anne Kwantes. Phronesis: A Journal of Asian Theological Seminary, vol. 8, # 1.
7. Taylor, Margaret Fisk.1967. A Time to Dance: Symbolic Movement in Worship. USA: United Church Press.
8. http://theatricalsupplies.com/Origins_Of_Theatre.asp