Teatrul lectură – un hibrid între teatrul dramatic și cel radiofonic

Abstract

Staged Reading– a Hybrid Between Dramatic and Radio Theatre
This paper examines the actor as a central creative figure within the theatrical field, with particular emphasis on the comparison between staged play readings and radio theatre. Both these two distinct modes of dramatic expression favor the actor᾽s need to transmit emotions, conflicts and ideas, through any form of artistic communication. By eliminating set design, stage movement and other visual elements, the entire artistic responsibility shifts onto the actor's voice. Accordingly, the voice becomes the main element of our study, not only as an instrument for delivering lines, but also a medium by which the atmosphere is constructed, the space is evoked, and the characters are developed. In the absence of visual components, the voice acquires a special force, suggesting action, tension and inner experience. Even if the reading of a play does not engage in a full performance, the actors assume their roles through nuanced vocal interpretation. The conclusions suggest that in both reading theatre and radio theatre, the voice becomes the body of the performance – an essential "vehicle" through which the characters come to life. In the absence of the visual, the audience is invited to "see with their ears", an experience that demands for the actors an exceptional vocal technique, a clear diction, sensitivity and a high empathetic capacity. The study, conducted with master’s-level students, highlights the expressive power and subtlety of the human voice as a fundamental instrument of theatrical communication.