Greek Drama Notes
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Greek Theatre
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
The First Theatre?
The famous Dionysan theatre was built into the
mountain that housed the famed Acropolis.
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.
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
The Dionysia: Athens
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
The Legend of Thespis
The "inventor of tragedy" was born in Attica
The first prize winner at the Great Dionysia in 534
BC.
He was an important innovator for the theatre,
introduced: the independent actor
masks
make up
costumes
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.
Actors
Men only -- one actor played several parts
wore high-heeled boots to add stature
masks often fitted with megaphones
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
Parts of a Greek Theatre
Dodoni Ancient Greek Theatre
Theatres were built into sides of hills so that they
could harness the natural acoustics.
Theatre at Delphi
Theatre at Argos
Theater of Epidaurus
Restored during the 1950’s. Can accommodate an
audience of 14,000
Used for modern performances of ancient drama.
Example Theatre Stage
Masks
Masked actors performed outdoors in daylight
before audiences of 10,000 or more at festivals.
Masks
Masks were used to show facial expression.
Masks
The use of masks enabled 1 actor to play several
parts in one play.
Masks
Victorian excavations of Pompeii revealed
what might be considered ancient
wallpaper.
Masks
Roman Actors with their masks
Greek Modesty
No censorship of events.
However, Greeks very polite on stage.
all spectacular action (death, murder,
adultery) happens off stage -- only
described.
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
Structure of Greek Tragedy
Prologue: a preface or Episode: the main
an introduction
action of the play; in
Greek drama it refers to
Parados: marks the
entrance of the Chorus that part of a tragedy
presented between two
when they first enter
stasimons
Stasimon: songs the
Chorus sings in Greek Exodus: conclusion of
the play
tragedy between
episodes
Exeunt: another word
for “Exit”
Greek Drama Unities
Time – real time
Place – all in one place
Action – continuous action in one place
no violence is seen on stage
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.
Sets
Greeks
Romans
mostly just one set
more elaborate sets
actors with huge
still use masks
masks
few props
many props
action on stage