Theatre Tradition in Islamic Culture

The purpose of the article is to identify the features of the theatrical tradition and to characterise the main forms of manifestation of theatre in Islamic culture. Research methodology. The author has applied the historical-cultural, historical-typological and historical-genetic methods, which helped to understand the peculiarities of formation and development of theatrical traditions within Islamic culture, as well as to consider the phenomenon of theatrical forms in Muslim countries over time; typological method, which revealed the features of traditional theatrical forms in Islamic culture, etc. Scientific novelty. The author has studied the traditional forms of theatre in Islamic culture; considered the specifics of theatre in the context of the Muslim mentality; revealed features of theatrical tradition in Muslim countries in historical retrospect; characterised the main performative traditions of the 12th – middle of the 19th century in Muslim East countries (Orta Oinu People’s Open-Air Theatre, Karagyoz Puppet Theatre of Shadows, and theatrical tales of the Maddahs). Conclusions. In the Muslim tradition, there are a variety of performative practices, such as shadow theatre, al-hakawa:ti, al-araguz, abidat r’ma, al-halqa and others, the deep significance of which allows concluding that Islamic culture is characterised by a variety of forms of theatrical art, in the aesthetics of which was the development of Muslim dramatic art. Traditional forms of theatre in Islamic culture occupy an intermediate position between “pure” physical, plastic, musical and dance theatre and psychological literary and narrative theatre, i.e. between theatres that are differentiated by contemporary theatre studies as Eastern and Western European theatres. The study found that the theatrical form in which the specifics of Islamic culture and national mentality are most actively expressed is the form of puppet theatre of shadows. This type of spectacle, in which the traditional form of the play is filled with lively, relevant content in demand in various spheres of society, is characterised by the manifestation of psychology and philosophical and aesthetic aspirations of Muslims