By 265 BCE, Athens had fallen out of power and the Roman Empire was expanding. The Romans absorbed much of Greek culture, including its theatre.

By 265 BCE, Athens had fallen out of power and the Roman Empire was expanding. The Romans absorbed much of Greek culture, including its theatre

6 th Century BCE Ludi Romani festival Similar to the City Dionysia festival but with variety entertainment - circus, boxing, chariot racing, beast hunts, gladiatorial contests, etc. Dramatic performances added in 364 BCE Latin adaptations of Greek Tragedy and Comedy added in 240 BCE Audiences were lively, if not very sophisticated

For centuries, Romans used old theaters that the Greeks had built their own theaters were built and torn down for each festival In 55 BCE, the Romans built their first stone theater Built on flat surfaces instead of into the hillsides Superior architecture allowed massive theaters to be built

Lower in status than Greek actors, often slaves Wore linen masks and used stock costumes and props Because of increased role of music, especially in comedies, actors had to be good singers

Stock characters Grumpy old man Young lovers Tricky servant Braggart soldier Chorus was eliminated Ironic or satirical songs opened most scenes

Similar to Greek tragedy but much more violent Also eliminated chorus

By the first century, formal theatre had lost its popularity Replaced by: Atellan Farce: Improvised comedies, built around stock characters Mime: troupes of men, woman and children, unmasked, performing short, satirical pieces of theatre. Focused on contemporary subjects and scandals. A favorite subject was to ridicule the new religious sect Christianity. Pantomime: Masked narrative ballets based on mythology.

Began around 190 CE ended 476 CE Vain, ineffective Emperors Empire was so large that central leadership became impossible. Attacked from Turks, ect.

After the fall of Rome, no stable government besides Church Church closed down all Roman theaters in 6 th Century theatre was associated with paganism and vice Yet, revival of theatre in the late10 th century was supported by church.

935 1002 CE First known female playwright Nun Wrote about strong women resisting temptation

Liturgical Drama: enacted as part of the liturgy during Mass Cycle plays illustrating the history of the scriptures Enacted in different areas of the church, called Mansions When taken out of the church, called Mystery Cycles Performed by craft guilds Miracle Plays: Based on the Saints lives

Somewhat secular, but with Christian message Used allegory EveryMan most famous example Always anonymous Acted on Pageant Wagons which traveled through town

The expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence. Merriam- Webster Dictionary

Existed from roughly 1000 CE to 1600 CE Grew from simple liturgical plays to great cycles and court pageants Professional actors begin to appear in late 15 th century Church weakened by internal conflict Rise of Universities When Elizabeth I came to the throne she forbade all religious plays Religion was too controversial

When religion was outlawed as a subject in theatre, dramatists needed other subjects to write about They looked back to the Greek and Roman playwrights!

Renaissance theatre is a blend of classical and medieval styles The church had never officially lifted their condemnation of professional actors, so they now enforced again Theatre used to be for religious and civic functions now, for the first time, actors had to hustle for recognition based purely on their entertainment and artistic value Renaissance theatre is a blend of classical and medieval styles The church had never officially lifted their condemnation of professional actors, so they now enforced again Theatre used to be for religious and civic functions now, for the first time, actors had to hustle for recognition based purely on their entertainment and artistic value

By 265 BCE, Athens had fallen out of power and the Roman Empire was expanding. The Romans absorbed much of Greek culture, including its theatre.

Documents

theatre slide

chorus slide

temptation slide

controversial slide

town slide

sophisticated slide

church church

th century church