1. Ancient Greek Theater

2. This is where it all began: the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens.

4. Dionysios
God of Wine, Revelry, Song

5. Scope of Influence Comedy and tragedy developed in Athens
Flourished in fifth and fourth centuries BCE
Influenced nearly all subsequent Western drama.

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7. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. The Physical Structure of the Greek Theater

15. The Lay-out 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).

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. Greek Theater Masks

27. 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.

28. 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.