1. Greek Theatre
Origins of an Art Form

3. Purpose Praising gods Entertain To teach To communicate
Greek traditions passed down by spoken word
Ex: The Odyssey

4. Dionysus The Greek god of wine, revelry, and theatre
Honored at a yearly festival
Men sang to welcome the god

5. Three Main Genres Tragedy-Tragic hero, sad, everyone dies (goat song)
Comedy-Happy, funny, people get married
Satyr Plays-sarcastic, bawdy

6. Thespis, the First Actor
Originally, dramas were performed by a chorus.
In 523 B.C., Thespis stepped out from the chorus and spoke by himself, becoming the first actor
This is why theatre practitioners are known as “thespians”

7. The Chorus Functioned as the narrator and commented on the action
All speak together
Identical masks
Spoke in poetry or sang lines
Originally 50 members, but lowered to later.

8. Technical Aspects
Theatron

9. The Building Built on a hill in a “C” shape for acoustics
Huge house to accommodate large audience

10. The Stage
Skene-backdrop or scenic wall. Actors could change. Death scenes always behind. Where we get the word “scene.”) Later a building
Proskenion- “In front of the scene.” Part of the playing space. Where we get “proscenium”
Orkestra-the circular playing space. “Dancing space.” Modern orchestra pit

11. Cont. parodoi- Where actors entered and exited
Mechane-a crane that gave the impression of a flying actor (thus, deus ex machina).
Ekkyklêma-a wheeled platform often used to bring dead characters into view for the audience

12. Costumes Actors wore masks in order to:
Be seen/exaggerated expressions
Show different characters
Men could play women
Quick transitions between
characters

13. Assignment
As a group, choose a mundane activity (getting dressed, brushing your teeth, etc.).
One person performs the action
The rest of the chorus dramatically narrates the action in poetry
Create paper masks for your performance

14. Example
Morning time, and Sarah awakes! She opens her eyes and rubs out the sleep of a dreamless night. Slowly, slowly she rises from her bed and stumbles to yonder bathroom. Reaching deliberately towards the toothbrush That promises clean teeth that resemble white pearls. Toothpaste, with claims of minty freshness Is spread upon the bristles in haphazard fashion. One by one, cleansing foam envelops each tooth. A rinse of clear, cool water and Sarah is nearly ready to face the day.