Hivokian Theatre

Hivokian Theatre is a highly complex, artistic form of story telling. Its form is often allegorical, mixing fantasy and fiction with real events to create a highly stylised story that contains a grain of truth. The acting is over exaggerated and the tradition makes use of musical and magical overture to enthuse the audience. A narrator who engages with the audience and players alike in improvisational material means no two performances will be exactly alike.

Execution

Symbolism and metaphor are employed heavily with some of the more common being;

White mask- truth, heroism, valour
Red mask/tiefling mask- deception, recklessness
Black teapot- Tragedy
Crystal wine cup- Comedy, pranks, jokes

When these items are present on the stage or being used by the performers it is a means of foreshadowing the events to follow

Participants

The Players

These are the actors, performing in front of the crowd

The Hands

The musicians and magicians who use their instruments and magics to charm the audience and evoke a depth of emotion not present in other types of performance

The Narrator

This individuel tells the story and in a divergence from other cultures narrators is neither impartial nor silent, engaging the Players characters, asking them impromptu questions or conversing with the audience

Observance

It is customary for the Warrior Caste and the Nobility to put on shows to entertain honoured guests when hosting them. The artform is not just for the rich however, and so travelling troupes of performers journey across Hivokia from town to town, stopping to play for whatever they can collect from the crowd. It is both bad luck and impolite to watch a play without paying the Players and if someone were caught doing so it would severely damage their social standing

Related Ethnicities