ABSTRACT
The advent of purpose-built theatres in many areas of Asia was relatively rare prior to the eighteenth century, but we do find early open-stage models discussed in India's Natyasastra. This chapter gives a few examples, discussing categories of: 1, festival where important geographical sites are transformed, sometimes using multiple venues and lasting many days; 2, localized performances where an ordinary home, aristocratic abode, market square, or temple site may become a temporary performance venue, and/or parades meant to lead audiences to a pre-determined temporary performance space; and 3, processional performances where either the procession itself is the full performance or it leads viewers who join toward sites of stationary performances. Processional performances are part of many Asian cultures. Even where Asians perform on permanent stages, the space and audience seating were not traditionally divided in the proscenium arrangement. Traditional festivals rooted in religion and/or rituals of state continue.
