Roman Theatre 200s B.C.E. – 400s A.D.

Historical Influences Greeks placed great emphasis on moral values and significant issues Greeks placed great emphasis on moral values and significant issues Romans were more concerned with popular entertainment Romans were more concerned with popular entertainment Bosra, Syria – preserved Roman Amphitheatre

Big change in attitude Roman Theatre became associated with low comedy and spectacles of violence and death Roman Theatre became associated with low comedy and spectacles of violence and death This lowered the esteem of theatre in the eyes of the church This lowered the esteem of theatre in the eyes of the church

2 Types of Plays Fabula Palliata – Translations of Greek tragedies Fabula Palliata – Translations of Greek tragedies Fabula Togata – Based on broadly farcical situations and physical humor – also includes gladiators and chariot races Fabula Togata – Based on broadly farcical situations and physical humor – also includes gladiators and chariot races

Physical Space Romans started using Greek arena style theatres but built up the skene building – often 3 stories tall with elaborate arches and columns Romans started using Greek arena style theatres but built up the skene building – often 3 stories tall with elaborate arches and columns Meridia, Spain

Physical Space Djemila, Algeria Orange – Provence, France Bullring Arles, France

Romans made the stage a raised rectangle which covered part of the Greek orchestra (thus making the orchestra a “pit” in front of the stage) and containing trap doors in the floor.

Theatre of Pompey Rome’s first stone theatre Rome’s first stone theatre Started in 55 BCE Started in 55 BCE Part of elaborate complex including gardens Part of elaborate complex including gardens Where Caesar was killed Where Caesar was killed

Roman Colosseum Started in 72 AD Started in 72 AD Largest Roman theatre Largest Roman theatre Considered greatest work of architecture and engineering Considered greatest work of architecture and engineering Seats 50,000 Seats 50,000 Ceased entertainment use during Medieval times Ceased entertainment use during Medieval times Earthquakes and stone robbers caused deterioration Earthquakes and stone robbers caused deterioration

Circus Maximus 1 st and largest stadium for chariot racing in Roman Empire Held 150,000

Characteristics of Productions Still male performers Still male performers More comedy and physical humor (slapstick) More comedy and physical humor (slapstick) More violence – especially in remakes of Greek tragedies More violence – especially in remakes of Greek tragedies Less importance of chorus Less importance of chorus More use of music like flutes More use of music like flutes Eventual move toward wigs and paint (make-up) and away from masks Eventual move toward wigs and paint (make-up) and away from masks

Important People Plautus ( BCE) Plautus ( BCE) Best examples of Togata (slapstick) Best examples of Togata (slapstick) Copied Greek comedies in Roman settings Copied Greek comedies in Roman settings Used Stock Characters Used Stock Characters Appealed to emotions and not the intellect Appealed to emotions and not the intellect

Terence ( BCE) Terence ( BCE) Used subplots – contrasts reactions of different characters to same events Used subplots – contrasts reactions of different characters to same events Not popular in his lifetime but more influential later Not popular in his lifetime but more influential later

Seneca (4 BC-65AD) Seneca (4 BC-65AD) Wrote tragedies Wrote tragedies Was a philosopher Was a philosopher Made Greek plays more violent (Palliata) Made Greek plays more violent (Palliata)

Titles Menaechmi by Plautus Menaechmi by Plautus Sometimes called The Brothers Menaechmus Sometimes called The Brothers Menaechmus Was the basis of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors Was the basis of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors Ridiculous situations from mistaken identity of a set of twins (Togata) Ridiculous situations from mistaken identity of a set of twins (Togata)