Theatre of Ancient Greece 6 th Century BCE

Why did theatre begin? 4 The need to imitate and tell stories 4 The need to worship – Dionysus was the Greek god of fertility. He was the son of Zeus and Semele (a mortal). – According to legend, he was killed and then resurrected and so his life is related to the cycle of birth, maturation, death, and re-birth (the four seasons). – He is worshipped to ensure the return of spring.

How Dionysus was worshipped 4 Dithyrambs were hymns that related episodes from the life of Dionysus. – They were performed by 50 men led by a priest —the chorus – Later, this chorus dressed as satyrs—creatures that were half man and half goat – The worship became known as the “goat song” (tragoedia) from which we get our word tragedy

The Festivals of Dionysus 4 There were three festivals at which drama developed in the city of Athens – City Dionysia—March – Lenaia—January – Rural Dionysia—December

City Dionysia 4 10 dithyrambs were presented each year 4 Following the dithyrambs, there were 3 days of plays – Tragedies – Comedies – Satyr plays • Satyr plays had a comic tone and were a spoof on a Greek myth • This is where we get the word “satire”

The first actor 4 Thespis was the 4 He stepped out of the chorus in 534 BCE and spoke dialogue – This is where we 4 We know this because get our word he won the first award “thespian” (as in the for acting that year. International 4 There was no conflict Thespian Society) because the single which means actor played many “actor” parts using masks. first actor.

Greek playwrights 4 Aeschylus (525 -456 BCE) – He added the second actor. – He is regarded as the father or founder of Western drama 4 Sophocles (496 -406 BCE) – Added the third actor – Reduced the chorus from 50 to 12 – Developed the “tragic flaw” – Oedipus Rex, Antigone, Oedipus at Colonus

Greek playwrights continued 4 Euripedes (480 -406 BCE) – Dealt with the inner conflict of good and evil – The Trojan Women 4 Aristophanes (448 -380 BCE) – “Old comedy” – Lysistrata, The Clouds, The Birds 4 Menander (342 -292 BCE) – “New comedy” – Wrote about middle class citizens

Greek Theatre Architecture 4 Orchestra—the “dancing place, ” circular, at the base of a hill with seating terraced up the hillside 4 Thymele—an altar to Dionysus located at the center of the orchestra

More Greek Theatre Architecture 4 Skene—scenehouse, used as a dressing room and eventually in the action, had one or more doors and was two stories for the appearance of gods

More Greek Theatre Architecture 4 Theatron—the “seeing place, ” the auditorium – Originally, patrons stood. – Then, wooden seating. – Then stone seating. 4 Paradoi—entrances to the orchestra at either end of the skene used by the chorus, actors, and spectators

Costumes and Masks 4 Chiton—an 4 All actors and the embroidered robe or tunic 4 Kothornos—soft shoe or boot reaching to the calf with a thick sole to add height 4 Onkos—a high headdress chorus wore masks that covered the entire head. 4 In comedies, the masks had exaggerated features.

Set pieces 4 Ekkyklema—a platform on wheels that could be rolled out with a body on it to show or explain an offstage death 4 Pinakes—painted panels similar to today’s flat, false walls

Set pieces continued 4 Periaktoi—a triangular prism with a different scene painted on each side that was rotated to show a change in location 4 Machina—a mechanical crane used to lower gods. Deus ex machina means “god from the machine” and was when a god was lowered down to solve all the problems.

A Greek Critic 4 Aristotle—Greek, wrote Poetics. – The 3 unities • Time— 24 hours • Place— 1 place or more than 1 with less than a 24 hour travel • Action— 1 plot and no subplots – The 6 parts of drama • Plot (story), character (people), thought (theme), diction (language), music (sound), spectacle (costume, setting, props, etc)