Ancient Greek Theater
Feb 23, 2016
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.