Greek Theatre History

Greek Theatre Grew out of religious ceremonies (rituals), which were prominent features of Greek society Ceremonies included funeral services, festivals celebrating the seasons, and ceremonies honoring the gods City Dionysia held a festival in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and fertility

Festival of Dionysia Many believe that Greek drama originated in the dithyrambic chorus presented to honor Dionysus Dithyramb – a lengthy hymn, sung and danced by a group of 50 men (chorus) Chorus – group of men, elders that represented the voice of society There were 4 plays performed at the festival: 3 tragedies and 1 comedy

Greek Tragedy Tragedy – means “goat song” in Greek The protagonist (main character) in a tragedy, usually does not reach his goal so tragedies have sad endings Tragedies are based on myths, which are stories or legends sometimes based on fact, which are handed down from generation to generation Three Greek tragedy playwrights: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripedes

Thespis Greek tragic playwright Is credited with transforming the dithyramb into tragedy Added the first actor (hypokrite) to the play Hypokrite – means an actor speaking behind a mask Thespians (actors) are named for Thespis

Aeschylus “Father” of tragedy Added second actor to plays Reduced the chorus from 50 to 12 men Wrote about gods

Sophocles Wrote about heroes Added the third actor to plays Added dramatic action and defined plot structure Wrote 110 plays; 7 survived Most noted works: Oedipus Rex and Antigone

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Ideal tragedy Tragic story of a man in search of truth Fate has preordained that Oedipus to kill his father and marry his mother

Euripides Playwright who questioned life Wrote about man not gods or heroes; more interested in human problems rather than religious interests Emphasized human relationships and emotions Reduced importance of the chorus

Medea by Euripides Most famous play was Medea, a tragedy about a woman who seeks revenge on her unfaithful husband by killing their children

Aristophanes Greek Comedy playwright Wrote 40 plays Combined satire, wit and farce (slapstick comedy) to create the Greek comedy form Nothing was sacred – made fun of everyone and everything Most famous play Lysistrata; women try to stop war by refusing to sleep with their husbands until they quit fighting

Lysistrata by Aristophanes Most famous play Lysistrata; women try to stop war by refusing to sleep with their husbands until they quit fighting

Aristotle Greek philosopher Published The Poetics, guideline for the arts Established six elements of drama: Plot Character Theme Language (Dialogue) Music (what you hear) Spectacle (what you see)

Conventions of Greek Theatre No violence on stage Men played all the roles Only 3 main actors on stage at all times; these actors played multiple roles wearing masks Audience included all social classes Audience learned lessons from the plays Catharsis – purging of emotions – the audience feared the same thing that happened to the protagonist would happen to them

More Conventions Masks - Actors wore masks to change characters Large stylized movements were needed to help audience understand the plot Periaktoi – 3-sided scenic unit to change scenery

More Conventions Special effects – Ekkylema – a wagon used to bring characters onstage; often to reveal the results of offstage violence Deus ex machina – crane hidden behind the upper level of the skene; used for the entrance of the actor playing a god

Greek Play Structure Prologos – opening scene which begins the action and provides background information Parados – the chorus enters Choral ode – performed by the chorus Exodus – final scene in which all the characters exit from the stage

Theatre and Stage Area Orchestra – the circular playing space where the actors performed Parados – the entrance way for the chorus Proskenion – the bottom level of the skene or stage house Skene – the scene house behind the orchestra; used to present several locales; actors changed their costumes behind the skene Theatron – “viewing place”; where audience sat

Greek Theatre Built into a hillside Orchestra for Chorus Proskenon for Actors Skene for mask changes Parados for Chorus Entrance and Exit