1. Theatre and democracy: greek theatre

2. Festival Theatre
Just by the name, what can we ASSUME about this type of theatre?

3. Summary
Until the 16th Century A.D, theatre in the Western world was performed primarily as part of festivals
It was financed by the community and performed for the community
theatrical performances were presented as offerings to a god and for the enjoyment of the general populace
Until the 16th Century AD, Theatre in the western world was performed primarily as part of festivals. © It was financed by the community and performed for the community. © it was available only for brief periods each year when theatrical performances were presented as offerings to a god for the enjoyment of the genarl populace. This tye of theatre flourished in © ancient Greece, Rome and Medieval Europe
ancient Greece, Rome and medieval Europe

4. Greek Theatre
Why did it take from 2000 BC until 534 BC for civilization to go from “Passion” Plays to “Theatre”?
The belief in the ability of human beings to make significant decisions contrasted sharply with the beliefs of earlier societies that people are pawns of supernatural forces
Democracy, democracy, democracy!!!

5. The theatre of ancient greece: The Origins Of Drama
The dithyrambs (choral song and dance)
thespis
Before theatre, the festivals included © Dithyrambs. Or choral song and dance. The story goes that © thespis….. He is credited with originating drama.

6. The City Dionysia Festival
'City Dionysia', a festival of entertainment held in honor of the god Dionysus.
music, singing, dance and poetry.
In the 6th Century BC, The Athenian ruler Pisistratus established the © City Dionysia, a festival of entertainment held in honor of the God Dionyys. This festival featured competitions in © music, singing, dance and poetry. Playwrights presented a © series of three tragedies or a trilogy. Interspersed between the three plays in the trilogy were © satyr plays
three tragedies, or a trilogy.
satyr plays

7. Word Origin
The modern word “thespian” comes from the name Thespis.

8. Communal Involvement The entire city would be in attendance.
All other businesses not directly involved with the 6-day festival would shut down, so that everyone could attend.
The government even offered financial assistance to those who could not afford to attend.

9. The Theatre of Dionysus
The first plays were performed in the Theatre of Dionysus, built in the shadow of the Acropolis in Athens at the beginning of the 5th century,
These theatres proved to be so popular they soon spread all over Greece.

10. Amphitheatres Plays were performed out-of-doors.
The side of the mountain was scooped out into a bowl shape, something like our amphitheatres today, and tiers of stone seats in concentric semi-circles were built on the hill.
These theatres often seated as many as 20,000 spectators, with a special first row being reserved for dignitaries.

13. Theatron
The theatron (literally, "viewing-place") is where the spectators sat. The theatron was usually part of hillside overlooking the orchestra, and often wrapped around a large portion of the orchestra.

14. Orchestra The orchestra (literally, "dancing space") was normally
circular. It was
a level space
where the chorus
would dance, sing,
and interact with
the actors who were on the stage (called the Proskenion) in front of the skene. In the center of the orchestra there was often an altar.

15. Skene
The skene (literally, "tent") was the building directly in back of the stage, and was usually decorated as a palace, temple, or other building, depending on the needs of the play. It had at least one set of doors, and actors could make entrances and exits through them.

16. Parados
The parodoi (literally, "passageways") are the paths by which the chorus and some actors (such as those representing messengers or people returning from abroad) made their entrances and exits.

17. The Actors
All of the actors were men. Women were not allowed to participate.
The actors played multiple roles, so a wooden, cork, or linen mask was used to show the change in character or mood.
If playing a female role, the male actor had a special female costume that he would wear

18. The Chorus
Because of the dithyrambic origins of Greek drama, the plays featured Choruses.
The chorus danced and either sung or chanted their lines.
Group of similarly costumed men

19. The Chorus
Expression through mask and movement
Being a part of the chorus was a part of Greek civic education

20. Functions of the chorus
an agent: gives advice, asks, takes part
establishes ethical framework, sets up standard by which action will be judged: comments on the action of the play and represents the populace
ideal spectator - reacts as playwright hopes audience would
sets mood and heightens dramatic effects
adds movement, spectacle, song, and dance.
rhythmical function - pauses / paces the action so that the audience can reflect.

21. Working in the Space
Because of the distance between actors and the audience, the actors, who were all men, used broad gestures and histrionic speech.
The actor made himself taller by wearing thick-soled shoes called cothurnis and a high head piece called an onkus.
The masks assisting in projecting the actor’s voice through a type of inside megaphone.

22. Types of Greek Drama Comedy Tragedy Satyr
Comedy and tragedy were the most popular types of plays in ancient Greece. Hence, the modern popularity of the comedy and tragedy masks to symbolize theatre.