Greek Theatre. Greek Theatre 4 Athenian – 5 th – 4 th century BC 4 Result of a contest; each playwright submitted a trilogy of tragedy and one satyr play.

Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre

Athenian – 5th – 4th century BC Result of a contest; each playwright submitted a

trilogy of tragedy and one satyr play Much pageantry and a winner at the end of each

week Combination of myth, philosophy, music and

dance Explored the violence of living

The First Theatre?

The famous Dionysan theatre was built into the mountain that housed the famed Acropolis.

The Academy Awards

The Dionysia was a spring celebration of the fertility god Dionysus – known as the Festival of Dionysus

The last 3 days of the festival was dedicated to 3 writers and their tragedies.

The winner received a lily wreath. Famous competitors: Aeschylus, Sophocles

and Euripedes.

Order of Festival Days

Day 1 – proagon – plays announced Day 2 – processions, parades, sacrifices Day 3 – performance of the first five

comedies Day 4-6 – performance of tragedies Day 7 – judging and awards

The Dionysia: Athens

The Three Tragedians

Aeschylus – used two men as actors; one talking to the other

Sophocles – used three actors; each played several parts

Euripedes – used even more actors; angered the Greeks because he showed the Greeks and gods in a sometimes negative light as they really were; portrayed strong female character; killed by wild dogs

The Legend of Thespis

The "inventor of tragedy" was born in Attica The first prize winner at the Great Dionysia in 534 BC. He was an important innovator for the theatre,

introduced: the independent actor masks make up costumes

More About Thespis

Thespis walked around Athens pulling a handcart, setting up a kind of one man play, where he showed the bad behavior of man.

The word for actor " thespian" comes from his name.

His contemporary Solon resented him, with the claim that what Thespis showed on stage would soon be acted out in reality as well.

Actors

Men only -- one actor played several parts wore high-heeled boots to add stature masks often fitted with megaphones

Parts of the Greek Stage

theatron – the theatre skene – changing room altar – middle of stage chitons – brightly colored robes onkoi – wigs kothurnoi – shoes on small stilts masks – had built in megaphones for

amplification; masks for comedies were always def

Parts of a Greek Theatre

Dodoni Ancient Greek Theatre

Theatres were built into sides of hills so that they could harness the natural acoustics.

Theatre at Delphi

Theatre at Argos

Theater of Epidaurus

Restored during the 1950’s. Can accommodate an audience of 14,000

Used for modern performances of ancient drama.

Example Theatre Stage

Masks

Masked actors performed outdoors in daylight before audiences of 10,000 or more at festivals.

Masks

Masks were used to show facial expression.

Masks

The use of masks enabled 1 actor to play several parts in one play.

Masks

Victorian excavations of Pompeii revealed what might be considered ancient wallpaper.

Masks

Roman Actors with their masks

Greek Modesty

No censorship of events. However, Greeks very polite on stage. all spectacular action (death, murder,

adultery) happens off stage -- only described.

Functions of the Chorus

represents the feelings or morals of the characters or audience

gives important background information summarizes events comments on action or gives advice to the

characters

Structure of Greek Tragedy Prologue: a preface or

an introduction Parados: marks the

entrance of the Chorus when they first enter

Stasimon: songs the Chorus sings in Greek tragedy between episodes

Episode: the main action of the play; in Greek drama it refers to that part of a tragedy presented between two stasimons

Exodus: conclusion of the play

Exeunt: another word for “Exit”

Greek Drama Unities

Time – real time Place – all in one place Action – continuous action in one place no violence is seen on stage

Roman Empire: 4th and 5th Centuries B.C.E.

Romans adopt Greek fascination with theatre Want more SPECTACLE renovate Greek theatres (destroyed in war) add a story to tiring houses (more costumes,

props, and set construction) save slaves to perform live out death scenes.

Sets

Greeks mostly just one set actors with huge

masks few props

Romans more elaborate sets still use masks many props action on stage