1. Introduction to Greek Theatre Thanks to a school somewhere in Germany for this powerpoint.

2. Why start with the Greeks? Greek theatre is considered to be the birthplace of modern drama. –“Western understanding of drama originated in fifth century (500-400) BC classical Athens, where the theater played a central role in politics, religion, and society. The Athenian stage invented forms of tragedy and comedy that persist to the present day.“ (W.B. Worthen in The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama, 2 nd edition, p. 13)

3. Social and Political Athens 5 th Century B.C. First Democracy-allowed for freedom of thought and led to a flourish in the arts Participation in this Democracy limited to 10% of population; women, slaves, and other “non-citizens” were excluded. Religion and the theater were part of civic duties!

4. So, it was important because... Without the innovations of the ancient Greeks, we would not have plays, movies, or TV today.

5. The Beginning The earliest forms of drama grew out of religious rituals. –Humans were primitive—did not understand forces of nature (rain, snow, sun, earthquakes, floods, plants growing, the changing of the seasons, etc.). We need concepts of basic science to understand things such as days and seasons. We have a need to explain our lives. –Developed concept of magical or supernatural forces and rituals intended to “win the favor” of those powers. –Created stories/myths to explain the nature of the magical forces, the rituals, and man’s relationship to the forces (the gods).

6. Beginning Continued –Eventually began to act out these stories (not as part of religious ceremonies)—this was the beginning of drama. –Performances were done by a chorus which sang and danced the stories. (No individual characterization)

7. Thespis The first actor—was the first to assume a character Invented dialogue (character had a conversation with the chorus) This is why actors are called “thespians” –2 nd actor introduced by Aeschylus (5 th century BC) –3 rd actor introduced by Sophocles (468 BC)

8. Sophocles(wrote Oedipus) Born in 496 B.C in Colonus, a town just outside of Athens One of three great tragic dramatists of ancient Athens (along with Aeschylus and Euripides) Concerned with the nature of man, his problems, his flaws(especially hubris ) Credit for 3 rd actor thus lessening the importance of the chorus.

9. Play Contests Were the main part of the religious festivals to honor the god Dionysus. –Dionysus was the god of fertility, wine, and revelry (partying) Early worship of him involved wild, beast-like behavior. Eventually it calmed down into a festival of plays and parties!! Series of contests (not just plays) between citizens and the Athenian “’tribes‘ that formed the city‘s basic political and military units“ (Worthen 13). Festivals included parades through the city, religious observances and sacrifices in the theater.

10. Contests Continued Each competing playwright produced a trilogy of tragedies dealing with a single theme or series of events. (Although sometimes they did 3 unrelated dramas.) All 3 plays were performed on one day. The playwrights we are familiar with came from the 5 th century BC: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripedes, and Aristophanes (who was the author of almost all the Greek comedies we have)

11. What were the plays about? Topics were more or less the same as modern plays, TV, and films: –contemporary society (what was going on in the society at that time) –politics –literature –war –mythology (acting out the stories) –history –man‘s relationship to the gods (religious issues)

12. Characteristics of Greek Drama Violence happened off stage (characters/chorus reported on it). Showed the effects of the violence on stage (brought out the dead/mutilated bodies). Scenes had only 2-3 actors (all were men). Actors wore masks/high boots/wigs Chorus commented on the action occurring in the scenes through odes in between the episodes (scenes). Sometimes had to bring in a god to resolve the problems (Deus ex machina). Actors could perform different characters (go off stage and put on a different mask) so play could have more than 3 characters.

13. Actors and Chorus members wore masks

14. More Conventions of Greek Theater To increase dramatic intensity: –Unity of time: Play took place within 24 hours –Unity of place: Action was limited to one setting –Unity of Subject: Focus was on the main character. –* Use of Dramatic Irony heightened suspense

15. The Theaters Amphitheater Design –Greek—built on the hillside –Sat around 15,000 people We still use the terminology –orchestra (orchestra pit—where the band sits) –skene (scenery) –proscenium (the “picture frame“ around the front of the stage from the audience‘s point of view)

17. The Theater at Delphi Imagine these seats filled with different types of people,

18. Theater of Dionysus People were alive and attending the theater.

19. Technology of the Day –Machina—basket on a pole, suspended from a crane. Characters that were supposed to be flying could be hoisted over the skene by the machina.

20. Makeup –Stage blood—sheep or goat‘s blood

21. Set-up of Oedipus Prologue: Initial speech or address. Function is to supply setting and situation. Parados: Entrance of the Chorus (also name of path on stage) Episode: Sometimes called a scene. Action of story. There are 4 episodes in Oedipus.

22. Set-up Continued Odes: Where the Chorus comments on the events that happened in the episode or scene : Choragos: Speaks directly to characters on behalf of chorus. Exodus: Part of the Greek Drama that follows the last song of the Chorus-the departure. All actors leave.

23. Images from: Parts of a Greek theater— http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110tech/Theater.html#Theaters Photo of Theater of Dionysus— http://www.superstock.com/stock-photography/Dionysus Photo of Theater at Delphi— http://www.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/tragedy_theater.html Scene from a satyr play— www.nd.edu/~agutting/aristotle.html Greek masks (title page) humanitieslab.stanford.edu/.../397 Stage blood— http://www.pathguy.com/oedipus_photo.jpg Masks— www.stratfordfestival.ca/.../SF_1955_oedipus.jpg Ekkyclema— www.didaskalia.net/images/gstage11.gif Mechane— www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/InventionsC.htm