Final answer:
The difference between presentational and representational drama lies in audience involvement. Presentational drama engages directly with the audience, while representational drama maintains a fourth wall, seeking realism. Examples include Bertolt Brecht's theatre for presentational, and Anton Chekhov's plays for representational.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Presentational and Representational Drama
Presentational drama and representational drama are both styles of theatre, with distinct approaches to how stories are told on stage. Presentational drama is a style of theatre where the performers acknowledge the presence of the audience and often directly engage with them. It may include breaking the fourth wall, the imaginary barrier between the stage and audience, or other methods of making the audience an active participant in the experience. An example of this can be seen in the plays of Bertolt Brecht or the commedia dell'arte style.
Representational drama, on the other hand, aims for realism and does not acknowledge the audience. Actors perform as if they are truly in the world of the play, without directly engaging with the viewers. This style became particularly popular with the rise of realism in the 19th century, as seen in the works of playwrights like Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen, whose plays 'The Cherry Orchard' or 'A Doll's House' seek to represent real life on stage, with the actors completely immersed in their characters, unperturbed by the audience's presence.
The key difference lies in the interaction with the audience and the approach to storytelling - presentational being more interactive and often stylized, while representational being more immersive and realistic.