Ancient Greek Theater

Ancient Greek Theater

This is where it all began: the Theatre of Dionysus in

Athens.

Dionysios God of Wine, Revelry,

Song

Scope of Influence Comedy and tragedy developed in Athens Flourished in fifth and fourth centuries

BCE Influenced nearly all subsequent Western

drama.

.

Theater of Dionysius The tragedies and comedies written for the

Theatre of Dionysus at Athens. Theatre was dug out of the slope beneath the

south side of the Acropolis - late 6th century BCE.

It was rebuilt and expanded many times

Theater: Celebrates the Olympian gods who often

appeared as characters. Honored Dionysus, god of wine and

procreation Often portrayed legendary kings and heroes as

well.

Theater and the Common Man Business and activities were suspended

during the week-long festivals held three times per year.

It was considered a CIVIC DUTY for people to participate in the productions in some way.

The plays were to give a lesson to the people - DIADACTIC PURPOSE

The Physical Structure of the Greek Theater

The theatron: where the audience sat

The orchestra: the circular dancing place for the chorus.

The parados : broad aisles which allowed the chorus to enter the theater.

Skene: a building for props, masks, actors to enter from (scenery).

The Lay-out

The Physical Structure of the Greek Theater

Held approximately 15,000 people No sets, props, etc. Actors’ lines marked the passage of time

and the setting. Design was important for acoustics – no

microphones.

The Players Greek tragedy and comedy originated with the

chorus, A tragic chorus consisted of 12 or 15 dancers

(choreuts), who may have been young men just about to enter military service after some years of training.

Athenians were taught to sing and dance from a very early age.

Performance Characteristics Plays were initially held with just the chorus

singing/chanting the lines. In 534 BCE Thespis was credited with

creating the first actor (thespians). The character spoke lines as a god.

This begins the concept of DIALOGUE – the character interacts with chorus.

The Role of the Actor Aeschylus – earliest Greek tragedy writer

brought idea of second actor. Sophocles – brought third actor – no more than

three actors on stage ever in a Greek tragedy. Euripedes – also used three actors after

Sophocles. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripedes each

wrote a version of the Oedipus tragedy, but Sophocles’ version is the most famous.

Actors needed to be LARGER THAN LIFE and thus easy to see.

Size was symbolic of their social status. Chiton – a long, flowing robe, padded at the

shoulders for width, selected in symbolic colors

Cothurni – platform shoes for added height

The Greek Actor Participation is a civic duty; many

volunteered for the chorus. Experienced speakers became actors Actors were revered and exempt from

military duty. Women were excluded from acting and had

to sit in the higher seats in the theatron.

Masks The large size of theatre and distance dictated

a non-naturalistic approach to acting. Gestures had to be large and definite so as to

'read' from the back rows. Facial expression would have been invisible to most.

The masks of tragedy were face-fitting size, with wigs attached, and open mouths to allow clear speech.

Their decoration and expression was subtle, as vase paintings from the 5th and 4th centuries attest.

Theatrical masks were made of wood, leather or cloth and flour

No originals remain, only stone carvings which may have been used as mask-molds, and the paintings on pottery.

Declamatory Acting Style Actors could not move easily, so lines

were delivered in a “speech” style. Broad sweeping gestures. General movements to express emotions:

Bowed head – grief; beating chest – mourning; stretching arms – prayer.

Minor props – scepter – king, spear – warrior, elderly – cane.

Greek Theater Masks

Paradox of the Mask The most distinctive feature of the mask

was its ability to limit and broaden at the same time.

Identified a specific character, but also had generalized features which gave an “Everyman” quality.

Allowed each member of audience to “get” the personal message.

Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) Written by Sophocles in 430 B.C.E. Based on a great legend of western culture

from Ancient Greece. Greatest Greek tragedy; drama of extreme

tension; one person rules action Sophocles’ version deals with the discovery

of Oedipus’ fate.