local amateur kabuki performance
Historical term for amateur kabuki performances put on by local communities, especially popular from the late Edo period through the early Meiji period. Often contrasted with professional kabuki (大芝居).
See also: 地芝居
In the late Edo period, local amateur kabuki performances were often staged at village shrine festivals.
Jikyōgen, also called jishibai, was performed by local people.
Professional kabuki performed in licensed theaters, in contrast to amateur 地狂言.
Compound of 地 (ji, 'local') and 狂言 (kyōgen, 'kabuki play'). The term reflects the grassroots, non-professional nature of these performances.