Transcript Greek Theatre History

Journal 1/5/2016
 Welcome back? Did you do anything
theatrical or drama related over the
break? Tell me about it!
Journal 1/6/16
 What do you know about Ancient
Greek theatre? Have you studied
plays/writings/art work from that
time period before? Tell us about it.
Journal 1/7/16
 What would you consider a modern
day tragic story (movie, TV show,
song, book)?
Journal 1/8/16
 Do we have something comparable to
the City Dionysia (contests, festivals,
etc.?)
Greek Theatre History
Beginnings
 Theatre in Greece was
at its height during the
“Golden Age” of 500400 B.C.E.
 It started out as
religious rites in honor
of Dionysus, Greek
god of wine and
fertility
 Performers sang
“Dithyrambs” or
hymns to Dionysus.
Development of Theatre
 Groups performing
Dithyrambs were
organized into choral
groups, and awarder
prizes
 These rituals and
contests developed
Tragedy: plays where
the main character
perishes.
 Choruses contained
more than 50 people
at times.
Parts of a Greek Theatre
Greek Scenery
 Periaktoi
 Still used today
 Triangular prism
 Rotated to change
scenery
Greek Scenery: Pinake
Greek Scenery: Deus Ex Machina
 “God in the
machine”
 Used to lower in
and take out actors
playing gods
 Still used today
Modern Deus Ex Machina
Greek Festivals
 These religious
rituals evolved into
great play writing
and performing
contests.
 They still honored
Dionysus, but
awards were given
to the playwrights
with the best tragic
performances.
City Dionysia
 One of four great
festivals
 Held in March
 Took place in Athens,
Greece
 Image of Dionysus
carried from site of
partying to the
“theatron” or seeing
place.
 Lasted about a week.
The Playwrights
 The last 3 days of the
festival, playwrights
presented:
 A tragic trilogy
 A satire (comic relief)
 At the end, the
winner would be
announced and
awarded the coveted
prize: an ivy garland.
Great Greek Playwrights
 Thespis
 Introduced a leader
of the chorus, the
first actor.
 Where we get the
term, Thespian.
 First winner of the
City Dionysia
Great Greek Playwrights
 Aeschylus
 The Father of
Tragedy
 Invented the trilogy
 Added a second
actor
 Won City Dionysia
13 times
 Plays include: The
Oresteia Trilogy
Great Greek Playwrights
 Sophocles
 Second great writer
of tragedies
 Became treasurer
of Athens
 Won City Dionysia
18 times
 Introduced a third
actor
 Plays include:
Oedipus Rex and
Antigone
Scenes From Oedipus Rex
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gtw9
zKb7wA
 Herdsman Scene
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD8rm
XwG9ZQ
 Choral Ode
Great Greek Playwrights
 Aristophanes
 Finest comic writer
of Greece
 Wrote bawdy
satires with
humorous ideas
and bold attacks
 Plays include: The
Frogs and The
Clouds
QUESTIONS?