1. Greek Theatre

2. Greek Theatre Athenian – 5th – 4th century BC
Result of a contest; each playwright submitted a trilogy of tragedy and one satyr play
Much pageantry and a winner at the end of each week
Combination of myth, philosophy, music and dance
Explored the violence of living

3. The First Theatre?
The famous Dionysan theatre was built into the mountain that housed the famed Acropolis.

4. The Academy Awards
The Dionysia was a spring celebration of the fertility god Dionysus – known as the Festival of Dionysus
The last 3 days of the festival was dedicated to 3 writers and their tragedies.
The winner received a lily wreath.
Famous competitors: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripedes.

5. Order of Festival Days Day 1 – proagon – plays announced
Day 2 – processions, parades, sacrifices
Day 3 – performance of the first five comedies
Day 4-6 – performance of tragedies
Day 7 – judging and awards

6. The Dionysia: Athens

7. The Three Tragedians
Aeschylus – used two men as actors; one talking to the other
Sophocles – used three actors; each played several parts
Euripedes – used even more actors; angered the Greeks because he showed the Greeks and gods in a sometimes negative light as they really were; portrayed strong female character; killed by wild dogs

8. The Legend of Thespis The "inventor of tragedy" was born in Attica
The first prize winner at the Great Dionysia in BC.
He was an important innovator for the theatre, introduced: the independent actor masks make up costumes

9. More About Thespis
Thespis walked around Athens pulling a handcart, setting up a kind of one man play, where he showed the bad behavior of man.
The word for actor " thespian" comes from his name.
His contemporary Solon resented him, with the claim that what Thespis showed on stage would soon be acted out in reality as well.

10. Actors Men only -- one actor played several parts
wore high-heeled boots to add stature
masks often fitted with megaphones

11. Parts of the Greek Stage
theatron – the theatre
skene – changing room
altar – middle of stage
chitons – brightly colored robes
onkoi – wigs
kothurnoi – shoes on small stilts
masks – had built in megaphones for amplification; masks for comedies were always def

12. Parts of a Greek Theatre

13. Dodoni Ancient Greek Theatre
Theatres were built into sides of hills so that they could harness the natural acoustics.

14. Theatre at Delphi

15. Theatre at Argos

16. Theater of Epidaurus
Restored during the 1950’s. Can accommodate an audience of 14,000
Used for modern performances of ancient drama.

17. Example Theatre Stage

18. Masks
Masked actors performed outdoors in daylight before audiences of 10,000 or more at festivals.

19. Masks were used to show facial expression.

20. Masks
The use of masks enabled 1 actor to play several parts in one play.

21. Masks
Victorian excavations of Pompeii revealed what might be considered ancient wallpaper.

22. Roman Actors with their masks

23. Greek Modesty No censorship of events.
However, Greeks very polite on stage.
all spectacular action (death, murder, adultery) happens off stage -- only described.

24. Functions of the Chorus
represents the feelings or morals of the characters or audience
gives important background information
summarizes events
comments on action or gives advice to the characters

25. Structure of Greek Tragedy
Prologue: a preface or an introduction
Parados: marks the entrance of the Chorus when they first enter
Stasimon: songs the Chorus sings in Greek tragedy between episodes
Episode: the main action of the play; in Greek drama it refers to that part of a tragedy presented between two stasimons
Exodus: conclusion of the play
Exeunt: another word for “Exit”

26. Greek Drama Unities Time – real time Place – all in one place
Action – continuous action in one place
no violence is seen on stage

27. Roman Empire: 4th and 5th Centuries B.C.E.
Romans adopt Greek fascination with theatre
Want more SPECTACLE
renovate Greek theatres (destroyed in war)
add a story to tiring houses (more costumes, props, and set construction)
save slaves to perform live out death scenes.

28. Sets Greeks Romans mostly just one set actors with huge masks
few props
Romans
more elaborate sets
still use masks
many props
action on stage