1. Greek Theatre
Theatre’s beginning

2. The Festival of Dionysus
Dionysus- god of wine and fertility.
8th-7th centuries B.C.: contests of choral dancing were held.
First definite record of drama in Greece is in 534 B.C.
Contest for Best Tragedy instituted.
Winner of first contest is Thespis.
Playwrights wrote 3 tragedies and one satyr play.

3. Performance of Greek Theatre
Plays were performed in the daytime
Women were not allowed to take part in the contests so men played male and female roles.
The playing of multiple roles was made possible by masks.
3 actors were required for the performance of a tragedy.
All 3 actors played multiple roles.
Chorus consisted of between 12 and 50 men.
Chorus allowed actors time to go backstage and change masks.

4. Masks
Prevented the audience from identifying the face of any actor with one character in the play.
Had exagerated facial expressions.
Helped the audience identify the gender, age, and social rank of the characters.
“Hypokrite”
Greek word for actor, means “wearer of masks” or “answerer”

5. Greek Tragedy
The first three plays of the festival were tragedies- plays where the main character fails to reach a goal or is overcome by opposing forces.
Rules of Greek Theatre
Play happens in real time.
No violence is shown on stage (violence committed offstage and discussed by chorus)
One or two major sets.

6. Greek Comedy
Consisted of critiques and scathing attacks on important Greek figures.
Poked fun at the members of the audience.
Scene set on an Athenian street
Events seldom occur- they are merely talked about.
Masks and fantastic costumes.
Bawdy

7. Notable Greek Authors Aristophanes Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides
Only well known Greek Comedy writer.
Most known for The Frogs, The Clouds, and Lysistrata.
Aeschylus
Expanded the number of actors and reduced the number actors
Wrote the only surviving Greek trilogy The Oresteia.
Tells the story of Agamemnon’s murder.
Sophocles
Balanced life events between the power of the gods and consequences of human action.
Only seven of his plays have survived.
Most known for Oedipus Rex and Antigone.
Euripides
Emphasized relationships and pathos- human sorrow and compassion.
Most known for The Trojan Women and Medea.

8. Vocabulary
Orkestra- a circular acting space in the center of a Greek theater; translates into “dancing place”
Thymele- Altar stone at center of orkestra
Teatron- Spectator seating; translates into “seeing place”
Skene- Stage building behind orkestra; where we get the words “scene” and “scenery.”
Parados- entry ramps for the chorus between the teatron and skene
Periaktoi- Three-sided turnable column used as a scenic knowledge; placed in space between columns of skene.
Machina- Crane-like device used to suspend celestial figures above the action