NCERT Textbook: Applause and Advice | Arts (Kriti) Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

 Page 1


4
Applause  
and Advice
As theatre performers, you 
are putting all your e??ort 
(backstage and on stage) to 
make sure that the audience 
is happy. But as you perform, 
you also have certain expectations from the 
audience. Don’t you? Some basic behaviour and 
understanding of the hard work you have put, 
along with some applause and support after the 
show.
As you have been told in the previous grades 
that watching performances makes you a 
better performer, it is now important for you 
to understand the responsibility and duty of 
being a good member of the audience — for any 
performing art. 
Being a good audience for the performing arts
When you sit among the audience, you are just as 
important as the actors on stage! Your duty is to — 
 ? Watch and listen respectfully, giving full 
attention to the performance.
 ? It is important not to talk, ??dget or use 
phones.
 ? Small distractions from you can disturb the actors 
and the other audience.
 ? Applauding at the right time, reacting kindly and 
appreciating the e??ort of the performers.
The above list has very simple requirements on what is 
to be done (applaud, appreciate, congratulate, o??er help), 
and what is not to be done (disrespect the performers 
and distract anyone with your actions). This very spirit 
is re??ected in the 27th chapter of the Na?yashastra,  
that talks about the success of a performance. The third 
You will learn
 ? Being a good audience for the arts
 ? Review writing
ch-4_theater.indd   46 ch-4_theater.indd   46 27-06-2025   15:20:28 27-06-2025   15:20:28
Page 2


4
Applause  
and Advice
As theatre performers, you 
are putting all your e??ort 
(backstage and on stage) to 
make sure that the audience 
is happy. But as you perform, 
you also have certain expectations from the 
audience. Don’t you? Some basic behaviour and 
understanding of the hard work you have put, 
along with some applause and support after the 
show.
As you have been told in the previous grades 
that watching performances makes you a 
better performer, it is now important for you 
to understand the responsibility and duty of 
being a good member of the audience — for any 
performing art. 
Being a good audience for the performing arts
When you sit among the audience, you are just as 
important as the actors on stage! Your duty is to — 
 ? Watch and listen respectfully, giving full 
attention to the performance.
 ? It is important not to talk, ??dget or use 
phones.
 ? Small distractions from you can disturb the actors 
and the other audience.
 ? Applauding at the right time, reacting kindly and 
appreciating the e??ort of the performers.
The above list has very simple requirements on what is 
to be done (applaud, appreciate, congratulate, o??er help), 
and what is not to be done (disrespect the performers 
and distract anyone with your actions). This very spirit 
is re??ected in the 27th chapter of the Na?yashastra,  
that talks about the success of a performance. The third 
You will learn
 ? Being a good audience for the arts
 ? Review writing
ch-4_theater.indd   46 ch-4_theater.indd   46 27-06-2025   15:20:28 27-06-2025   15:20:28
Review
It mentions that the expression of success can be 
in two ways — 
1.	 V ocally?—?through 	words?—?speech, 
exclamations and writing.
2.	 Ph ysical 	 body?—?through	 actions?—?clapping, 
standing up after the show for respect and giving 
gifts.
In this chapter, we shall look at how you can 
use the ??rst option — write about the performance 
and be a good audience to the arts. The process of 
writing a performance for the others to read, and 
understand the elements and spirit of the show is 
called a ‘review’. As the word itself, it should be so 
well-written that the reader should feel like it is being 
viewed again. You review the show! Let us look at the 
technical de??nition of a review, which is not limited 
to performances alone. Reviews are done for books, 
products, paintings, projects and even sports along 
with movies, music, drama and dance concerts.
Reviewing is the process 
of thoughtfully observing, 
re??ecting and giving feedback 
on a performance, product or 
experience. It involves looking 
closely at what worked well, 
what could be improved and 
how e??ectively the goal was 
achieved. Good reviewing is 
not just about ??nding faults. It 
is about appreciating strengths, noticing details, and 
o??ering suggestions. It sharpens critical thinking and 
helps everyone to improve.
??????? ? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?
??????????? ? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ? ?? ???? ?? ? ??
dashanga manu?hi siddhirdeviki dvividha smrta |
nanasattvashrayak?ta shariri vanmayi tatha||
                                 Na?yashastra, Ch 27
Of these two, the human (success) has ten 
features, and the divine (success) has two; and 
these features consist (mostly) of various sattvas 
expressed vocally (vanmayi) and physically 
(sariri).
stanza speaks about how the appreciation must be 
communicated to the performers —
47  | Applause and Advice
ch-4_theater.indd   47 ch-4_theater.indd   47 27-06-2025   15:20:31 27-06-2025   15:20:31
Page 3


4
Applause  
and Advice
As theatre performers, you 
are putting all your e??ort 
(backstage and on stage) to 
make sure that the audience 
is happy. But as you perform, 
you also have certain expectations from the 
audience. Don’t you? Some basic behaviour and 
understanding of the hard work you have put, 
along with some applause and support after the 
show.
As you have been told in the previous grades 
that watching performances makes you a 
better performer, it is now important for you 
to understand the responsibility and duty of 
being a good member of the audience — for any 
performing art. 
Being a good audience for the performing arts
When you sit among the audience, you are just as 
important as the actors on stage! Your duty is to — 
 ? Watch and listen respectfully, giving full 
attention to the performance.
 ? It is important not to talk, ??dget or use 
phones.
 ? Small distractions from you can disturb the actors 
and the other audience.
 ? Applauding at the right time, reacting kindly and 
appreciating the e??ort of the performers.
The above list has very simple requirements on what is 
to be done (applaud, appreciate, congratulate, o??er help), 
and what is not to be done (disrespect the performers 
and distract anyone with your actions). This very spirit 
is re??ected in the 27th chapter of the Na?yashastra,  
that talks about the success of a performance. The third 
You will learn
 ? Being a good audience for the arts
 ? Review writing
ch-4_theater.indd   46 ch-4_theater.indd   46 27-06-2025   15:20:28 27-06-2025   15:20:28
Review
It mentions that the expression of success can be 
in two ways — 
1.	 V ocally?—?through 	words?—?speech, 
exclamations and writing.
2.	 Ph ysical 	 body?—?through	 actions?—?clapping, 
standing up after the show for respect and giving 
gifts.
In this chapter, we shall look at how you can 
use the ??rst option — write about the performance 
and be a good audience to the arts. The process of 
writing a performance for the others to read, and 
understand the elements and spirit of the show is 
called a ‘review’. As the word itself, it should be so 
well-written that the reader should feel like it is being 
viewed again. You review the show! Let us look at the 
technical de??nition of a review, which is not limited 
to performances alone. Reviews are done for books, 
products, paintings, projects and even sports along 
with movies, music, drama and dance concerts.
Reviewing is the process 
of thoughtfully observing, 
re??ecting and giving feedback 
on a performance, product or 
experience. It involves looking 
closely at what worked well, 
what could be improved and 
how e??ectively the goal was 
achieved. Good reviewing is 
not just about ??nding faults. It 
is about appreciating strengths, noticing details, and 
o??ering suggestions. It sharpens critical thinking and 
helps everyone to improve.
??????? ? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?
??????????? ? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ? ?? ???? ?? ? ??
dashanga manu?hi siddhirdeviki dvividha smrta |
nanasattvashrayak?ta shariri vanmayi tatha||
                                 Na?yashastra, Ch 27
Of these two, the human (success) has ten 
features, and the divine (success) has two; and 
these features consist (mostly) of various sattvas 
expressed vocally (vanmayi) and physically 
(sariri).
stanza speaks about how the appreciation must be 
communicated to the performers —
47  | Applause and Advice
ch-4_theater.indd   47 ch-4_theater.indd   47 27-06-2025   15:20:31 27-06-2025   15:20:31
The circle time, an activity you have 
been doing after every chapter is a 
form of review exercise for every 
activity! 
DO YOU 
KNOW?
Reviewing 	 in	 theatre is a special skill where 
you not only watch a play but also pay attention 
to how well the actors perform, how the story is 
told, use of voice, movement, costumes, lighting 
and even sets.  It is not about criticising. It is about 
celebrating what made the performance powerful 
and suggesting how it could connect more deeply 
with the audience. Theatre reviewing trains you 
to be a careful observer, a sensitive listener and a 
respectful communicator.
There 	are	 three	types	 of 	 reviews?—
 ? Self-review?—? When the creators themselves 
examine the art and check for ways to improve 
before presenting it to the audience.
 ? Peer 	 review?—? Contemporaries in the ??eld 
provide suggestions, either before or after the 
show.
 ? Critical	 review?—? It is obtained from everyone 
after the show, which includes a detailed 
analysis of all the aspects of the performance, 
including the scope for improvement, 
strengths and weaknesses. 
Let	us	 start	 reviewing!
Being a reviewer does not mean you can just go 
and sit in the audience. It is your responsibility to 
prepare for it!
As theatre students, you not only do theatre but 
also watch plays. You learn more by watching. Any 
language of any genre. Watch a play whenever 
possible. Request your teachers to plan ??eld trips 
from school to watch plays together. You can also 
watch plays with your family and friends, as a fun 
activity. Make sure you write a review for every 
performance you watch. The steps given in this 
chapter will help you.
ACTIVITY 4.1: PLAY WATCHING 
48  |  KRITI
ch-4_theater.indd   48 ch-4_theater.indd   48 27-06-2025   15:20:31 27-06-2025   15:20:31
Page 4


4
Applause  
and Advice
As theatre performers, you 
are putting all your e??ort 
(backstage and on stage) to 
make sure that the audience 
is happy. But as you perform, 
you also have certain expectations from the 
audience. Don’t you? Some basic behaviour and 
understanding of the hard work you have put, 
along with some applause and support after the 
show.
As you have been told in the previous grades 
that watching performances makes you a 
better performer, it is now important for you 
to understand the responsibility and duty of 
being a good member of the audience — for any 
performing art. 
Being a good audience for the performing arts
When you sit among the audience, you are just as 
important as the actors on stage! Your duty is to — 
 ? Watch and listen respectfully, giving full 
attention to the performance.
 ? It is important not to talk, ??dget or use 
phones.
 ? Small distractions from you can disturb the actors 
and the other audience.
 ? Applauding at the right time, reacting kindly and 
appreciating the e??ort of the performers.
The above list has very simple requirements on what is 
to be done (applaud, appreciate, congratulate, o??er help), 
and what is not to be done (disrespect the performers 
and distract anyone with your actions). This very spirit 
is re??ected in the 27th chapter of the Na?yashastra,  
that talks about the success of a performance. The third 
You will learn
 ? Being a good audience for the arts
 ? Review writing
ch-4_theater.indd   46 ch-4_theater.indd   46 27-06-2025   15:20:28 27-06-2025   15:20:28
Review
It mentions that the expression of success can be 
in two ways — 
1.	 V ocally?—?through 	words?—?speech, 
exclamations and writing.
2.	 Ph ysical 	 body?—?through	 actions?—?clapping, 
standing up after the show for respect and giving 
gifts.
In this chapter, we shall look at how you can 
use the ??rst option — write about the performance 
and be a good audience to the arts. The process of 
writing a performance for the others to read, and 
understand the elements and spirit of the show is 
called a ‘review’. As the word itself, it should be so 
well-written that the reader should feel like it is being 
viewed again. You review the show! Let us look at the 
technical de??nition of a review, which is not limited 
to performances alone. Reviews are done for books, 
products, paintings, projects and even sports along 
with movies, music, drama and dance concerts.
Reviewing is the process 
of thoughtfully observing, 
re??ecting and giving feedback 
on a performance, product or 
experience. It involves looking 
closely at what worked well, 
what could be improved and 
how e??ectively the goal was 
achieved. Good reviewing is 
not just about ??nding faults. It 
is about appreciating strengths, noticing details, and 
o??ering suggestions. It sharpens critical thinking and 
helps everyone to improve.
??????? ? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?
??????????? ? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ? ?? ???? ?? ? ??
dashanga manu?hi siddhirdeviki dvividha smrta |
nanasattvashrayak?ta shariri vanmayi tatha||
                                 Na?yashastra, Ch 27
Of these two, the human (success) has ten 
features, and the divine (success) has two; and 
these features consist (mostly) of various sattvas 
expressed vocally (vanmayi) and physically 
(sariri).
stanza speaks about how the appreciation must be 
communicated to the performers —
47  | Applause and Advice
ch-4_theater.indd   47 ch-4_theater.indd   47 27-06-2025   15:20:31 27-06-2025   15:20:31
The circle time, an activity you have 
been doing after every chapter is a 
form of review exercise for every 
activity! 
DO YOU 
KNOW?
Reviewing 	 in	 theatre is a special skill where 
you not only watch a play but also pay attention 
to how well the actors perform, how the story is 
told, use of voice, movement, costumes, lighting 
and even sets.  It is not about criticising. It is about 
celebrating what made the performance powerful 
and suggesting how it could connect more deeply 
with the audience. Theatre reviewing trains you 
to be a careful observer, a sensitive listener and a 
respectful communicator.
There 	are	 three	types	 of 	 reviews?—
 ? Self-review?—? When the creators themselves 
examine the art and check for ways to improve 
before presenting it to the audience.
 ? Peer 	 review?—? Contemporaries in the ??eld 
provide suggestions, either before or after the 
show.
 ? Critical	 review?—? It is obtained from everyone 
after the show, which includes a detailed 
analysis of all the aspects of the performance, 
including the scope for improvement, 
strengths and weaknesses. 
Let	us	 start	 reviewing!
Being a reviewer does not mean you can just go 
and sit in the audience. It is your responsibility to 
prepare for it!
As theatre students, you not only do theatre but 
also watch plays. You learn more by watching. Any 
language of any genre. Watch a play whenever 
possible. Request your teachers to plan ??eld trips 
from school to watch plays together. You can also 
watch plays with your family and friends, as a fun 
activity. Make sure you write a review for every 
performance you watch. The steps given in this 
chapter will help you.
ACTIVITY 4.1: PLAY WATCHING 
48  |  KRITI
ch-4_theater.indd   48 ch-4_theater.indd   48 27-06-2025   15:20:31 27-06-2025   15:20:31
1.  Research the Play
 ? Find out the name of the play, playwright 
and the basic plot (without spoiling it!).
 ? Understand the time period or setting, if it 
is famous or historical.
2. 		 Know	the	Genre
 ? Is it a comedy, tragedy, musical, historical 
drama, or a modern play? This helps you 
watch with the right mindset.
3.  Find out about the Theatre Team that is 
Performing
 ? Find out about the group performing — are 
they professionals, 
students or a 
community 
group? It helps in 
understanding their 
point of view.
4. Keep a Journal
 ? Carry a small 
notebook to quickly 
jot down thoughts 
during or right after 
the show.
5. Your Mindset
 ? Go with an open mind — be ready to enjoy 
and observe. 
 ? A reviewer must be honest but also fair and 
respectful. Holding a bias towards the team 
or an actor will not make the review honest.
6. Revise What You Intend to Observe
 ? Acting ?—?Was it believable and emotional?
 ? Set design ?—?Did the stage support the story?
 ? Costumes?—?Did they match the time and 
character? 
 ? Lights	and	Sound?—?Did they add to the 
mood?
 ? Story ?—?Was it clear, engaging or confusing?
 ? Flow? — ?Is there a smooth ??ow from one 
scene to another? Are the entries and exits 
smooth within a scene?
 ? Errors that were visibly evident — How 
were they handled?
7. Have No Expectations
 ? Every production is di??erent. Don't expect 
it to be exactly like a movie or a previous 
version you may have seen.
49  | Applause and Advice
ch-4_theater.indd   49 ch-4_theater.indd   49 27-06-2025   15:20:32 27-06-2025   15:20:32
Page 5


4
Applause  
and Advice
As theatre performers, you 
are putting all your e??ort 
(backstage and on stage) to 
make sure that the audience 
is happy. But as you perform, 
you also have certain expectations from the 
audience. Don’t you? Some basic behaviour and 
understanding of the hard work you have put, 
along with some applause and support after the 
show.
As you have been told in the previous grades 
that watching performances makes you a 
better performer, it is now important for you 
to understand the responsibility and duty of 
being a good member of the audience — for any 
performing art. 
Being a good audience for the performing arts
When you sit among the audience, you are just as 
important as the actors on stage! Your duty is to — 
 ? Watch and listen respectfully, giving full 
attention to the performance.
 ? It is important not to talk, ??dget or use 
phones.
 ? Small distractions from you can disturb the actors 
and the other audience.
 ? Applauding at the right time, reacting kindly and 
appreciating the e??ort of the performers.
The above list has very simple requirements on what is 
to be done (applaud, appreciate, congratulate, o??er help), 
and what is not to be done (disrespect the performers 
and distract anyone with your actions). This very spirit 
is re??ected in the 27th chapter of the Na?yashastra,  
that talks about the success of a performance. The third 
You will learn
 ? Being a good audience for the arts
 ? Review writing
ch-4_theater.indd   46 ch-4_theater.indd   46 27-06-2025   15:20:28 27-06-2025   15:20:28
Review
It mentions that the expression of success can be 
in two ways — 
1.	 V ocally?—?through 	words?—?speech, 
exclamations and writing.
2.	 Ph ysical 	 body?—?through	 actions?—?clapping, 
standing up after the show for respect and giving 
gifts.
In this chapter, we shall look at how you can 
use the ??rst option — write about the performance 
and be a good audience to the arts. The process of 
writing a performance for the others to read, and 
understand the elements and spirit of the show is 
called a ‘review’. As the word itself, it should be so 
well-written that the reader should feel like it is being 
viewed again. You review the show! Let us look at the 
technical de??nition of a review, which is not limited 
to performances alone. Reviews are done for books, 
products, paintings, projects and even sports along 
with movies, music, drama and dance concerts.
Reviewing is the process 
of thoughtfully observing, 
re??ecting and giving feedback 
on a performance, product or 
experience. It involves looking 
closely at what worked well, 
what could be improved and 
how e??ectively the goal was 
achieved. Good reviewing is 
not just about ??nding faults. It 
is about appreciating strengths, noticing details, and 
o??ering suggestions. It sharpens critical thinking and 
helps everyone to improve.
??????? ? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?
??????????? ? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ? ?? ???? ?? ? ??
dashanga manu?hi siddhirdeviki dvividha smrta |
nanasattvashrayak?ta shariri vanmayi tatha||
                                 Na?yashastra, Ch 27
Of these two, the human (success) has ten 
features, and the divine (success) has two; and 
these features consist (mostly) of various sattvas 
expressed vocally (vanmayi) and physically 
(sariri).
stanza speaks about how the appreciation must be 
communicated to the performers —
47  | Applause and Advice
ch-4_theater.indd   47 ch-4_theater.indd   47 27-06-2025   15:20:31 27-06-2025   15:20:31
The circle time, an activity you have 
been doing after every chapter is a 
form of review exercise for every 
activity! 
DO YOU 
KNOW?
Reviewing 	 in	 theatre is a special skill where 
you not only watch a play but also pay attention 
to how well the actors perform, how the story is 
told, use of voice, movement, costumes, lighting 
and even sets.  It is not about criticising. It is about 
celebrating what made the performance powerful 
and suggesting how it could connect more deeply 
with the audience. Theatre reviewing trains you 
to be a careful observer, a sensitive listener and a 
respectful communicator.
There 	are	 three	types	 of 	 reviews?—
 ? Self-review?—? When the creators themselves 
examine the art and check for ways to improve 
before presenting it to the audience.
 ? Peer 	 review?—? Contemporaries in the ??eld 
provide suggestions, either before or after the 
show.
 ? Critical	 review?—? It is obtained from everyone 
after the show, which includes a detailed 
analysis of all the aspects of the performance, 
including the scope for improvement, 
strengths and weaknesses. 
Let	us	 start	 reviewing!
Being a reviewer does not mean you can just go 
and sit in the audience. It is your responsibility to 
prepare for it!
As theatre students, you not only do theatre but 
also watch plays. You learn more by watching. Any 
language of any genre. Watch a play whenever 
possible. Request your teachers to plan ??eld trips 
from school to watch plays together. You can also 
watch plays with your family and friends, as a fun 
activity. Make sure you write a review for every 
performance you watch. The steps given in this 
chapter will help you.
ACTIVITY 4.1: PLAY WATCHING 
48  |  KRITI
ch-4_theater.indd   48 ch-4_theater.indd   48 27-06-2025   15:20:31 27-06-2025   15:20:31
1.  Research the Play
 ? Find out the name of the play, playwright 
and the basic plot (without spoiling it!).
 ? Understand the time period or setting, if it 
is famous or historical.
2. 		 Know	the	Genre
 ? Is it a comedy, tragedy, musical, historical 
drama, or a modern play? This helps you 
watch with the right mindset.
3.  Find out about the Theatre Team that is 
Performing
 ? Find out about the group performing — are 
they professionals, 
students or a 
community 
group? It helps in 
understanding their 
point of view.
4. Keep a Journal
 ? Carry a small 
notebook to quickly 
jot down thoughts 
during or right after 
the show.
5. Your Mindset
 ? Go with an open mind — be ready to enjoy 
and observe. 
 ? A reviewer must be honest but also fair and 
respectful. Holding a bias towards the team 
or an actor will not make the review honest.
6. Revise What You Intend to Observe
 ? Acting ?—?Was it believable and emotional?
 ? Set design ?—?Did the stage support the story?
 ? Costumes?—?Did they match the time and 
character? 
 ? Lights	and	Sound?—?Did they add to the 
mood?
 ? Story ?—?Was it clear, engaging or confusing?
 ? Flow? — ?Is there a smooth ??ow from one 
scene to another? Are the entries and exits 
smooth within a scene?
 ? Errors that were visibly evident — How 
were they handled?
7. Have No Expectations
 ? Every production is di??erent. Don't expect 
it to be exactly like a movie or a previous 
version you may have seen.
49  | Applause and Advice
ch-4_theater.indd   49 ch-4_theater.indd   49 27-06-2025   15:20:32 27-06-2025   15:20:32
Writing a review 
You have watched 
the performance, 
made key points in 
your notepad and 
have a lot more 
points in your 
mind, waiting to 
be expressed. But 
there are some points to keep in mind before you do. 
 ? Don't	 be	mean	or	personal?—?Critique the 
performance, not the person. Never insult an 
actor, director or team.
 ? No	 spoilers?—?If the story depends on a 
surprise, don't ruin it for others.
 ? A void	using	single 	phr ases	lik e 	‘it	was	not	
bad’?—?Explain why you thought it was good or 
needed improvement. Justify your opinions.
 ? Have	 a 	 balance	of	positives	and	negatives?—?	
Even if you didn’t enjoy the play, ??nd and 
mention something positive too. The main 
purpose is to help the team or individuals 
improve and do better. 
 ? Neither	too	long	 nor 	 too	short?—?Find the 
balance — detailed but easy to read. Around 300 
words is good for beginners.
CIRCLE  
TIME
1. What did you learn about being a performer 
after understanding the review process?
2. Is it easy to review your own work or the 
work of others? Which is more important?
3. Are you able to accept reviews from others 
as fairly as you give your reviews to others?
Now, how do you write it?
With all these points in mind, you can start 
writing. Though you can make it creative in your 
presentation, such that it re??ects your unique style, 
following a structure will help put things in order 
and also making it easy for the readers.
50  |  KRITI
ch-4_theater.indd   50 ch-4_theater.indd   50 27-06-2025   15:20:35 27-06-2025   15:20:35