WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Three major Noh roles exist: the principal actor, or shite; the subordinate actor, or waki; and the kyōgen actors, one of whom is often involved in Noh plays as a narrator.

Detailed explanation-2: -Roles. All performers in noh are male. Shite-the leading character.

Detailed explanation-3: -Plays. Of the roughly 2000 plays created for Noh that are known today, about 240 make up the current repertoire performed by the five existing Noh schools. The current repertoire is heavily influenced by the taste of aristocratic class in Tokugawa period and does not necessarily reflect popularity among the commoners.

Detailed explanation-4: -Masks are an essential part of Noh theatre. The masks play an important role in the theatre, the main character and accompanying character(s) almost always wear masks. However, the narrator in Noh theatre never wears a mask. The masks have set roles in Noh theatre and only specific characters can wear them.

Detailed explanation-5: -In order to retain the idea of performing outdoors, the modern noh stage, though fashioned indoors, is designed complete with details such as a roof, bridge with a handrail and a pine tree painted on the back wall.