Why do theatres still exist?

Answer 1

There has been much debate about this question, and only theories as to how theatre started. I believe it has many origins. Religious cerimonies and rituals (such as war cerimonies, etc.) are among a few happenings that brought about theatre. People would dance to bring rain or whatever and pray to the deities. This later developed into people reinacting stories of their gods in front of each other. Another origin of theatre is the art of storytelling. People would tell stories and sometimes reinact them to pass on important information to the next generation such as stories of ancestors or stories to teach young ones important life lessons. The first actor that we know of is Thespis from ancient Athens. The Greeks would sing ancient hymns, called dithrambs, to honor the god Dionysus. Later, they would dress up in costumes and wear masks to tell stories while singing in chorus. Around the sixth century B.C., began the festivals of City Dionysia (among other festivals) where they held competitions for music, poetry, dance, and singing. Among the most talented winners was Thespis. Thespis was the first person we know of who astounded audiences by actually portraying the characters as he was reciting the poetry. Thus, he is known as the first actor, and we theatre people are referred to as "thespians."

Answer 2

Because people enjoy live entertainment. It provides an intimate experience unmatched by television or the movies.