Greek Drama

Drama was born in ancient Greece! 600s B.C. - Greeks were giving choral performances of dancing and singing Performances at festivals honoring Dionysus Later they held drama contests to honor him

Thespis (534 B. C.) First “actor” Introduced art of acting a part on stage dramatic impersonation of another character Uncertain whether he was a playwright, an actor, or a priest “Thespian” term comes from his name

Description of Greek Theater Took place in large hillside amphitheaters held as many as 20, 000 people!! Players included a chorus and their leader Lines were chanted rather than spoken Chorus performed in an “orchestra”, not on a raised platform

Greek Theater (continued) Masks used to represent characters High-soled boots worn to add height Both of these limited movement

Greek Theater

Most Important Era (400s B.C.) Tragedies performed as part of a civic celebration called the City Dionysia Festival lasted several days Prizes given for best tragedy, comedy, acting, and choral singing

Theater of Dionysus Located on slope below the Acropolis in Athens Seated 14,000 + Circular acting area called orchestra Skene (stage house)

The Physical Structure of the Greek Theater

Greek Tragedy Nearly all surviving tragedies are based on myth Character’s struggle against hostile forces ended in defeat and ultimately in death A series of dramatic episodes separated by choral odes (mini-songs). Episodes performed by a few actors - never more than 3 on stage

Greek Drama (continued) Wore masks to indicate the nature of the characters played. Men played women’s roles Same actor appeared in several parts. Of the hundreds of Greek tragedies written, fewer than 35 survive.

Greek Tragedy The Three Greek Tragedians: Aeschylus - his are the oldest surviving plays - began competing in 449 at Dionysus Theatre. Most of his plays were part of trilogies. 2. Sophocles: (496-406 B.C.) won 24 contests, never lower than 2nd; believed to have introduced the 3rd actor; fixed the chorus at 15 (had been 50). 3. Euripides (480-406 B.C.) very popular in later Greek times, little appreciated during his life sometimes known as "the father of melodrama".

Three Playwrights Aeschylus Most famous for Oresteia Introduced concept of second actor Expanded possibilities for plot

Sophocles Innovation of the third actor Most famous for Oedipus Rex

Euripides Created the ultimate form of drama Far more naturalistic or human approach in his works Showed interest in psychology through portraits of women Medea is most famous work Describes how a mother kills her children to gain revenge against their father