1. Greek THEATRE

2. On the stage: The first Dramas were Choral and dance presentations In the mid 6 th century an actor was added to respond to the chorus. Thespis is credited with this. Aeschylus added a second actor in the early 5 th century and reduced the chorus to 15 Euripides added a 3 rd actor Often the actors took several parts – masks made this easy Aristophanes used 3 actors – though in one part of the Frogs e has a 4 th actor on stage

3. Stage The theatre was constructed of three major parts : skene - The skene was the place where the actors performed. It was originally a hut, tent, or booth. It was the background for the play. orchestra - The orchestra was the main part of the stage where the chorus was located at. It was the place where the chorus danced and sang. 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 (see the diagram above

4. Theatron-”seeing place”; where the audience sat Orchestra- “The dancing place”; where the chorus performed Skene (tent)- low rectangular building with uncovered passages on either side – Gives us the word “scenery” because it was eventually painted and decorated Parados – passage way into the theatre for the choros in the ‘parados’ Proscenium- level area in front of skene; most of the action took place there; not a stage but possibly raised one step above the orchestra Altar to Dionysus- in center of orchestra; used for sacrifices; also a stage prop (tree, boat, etc.) Thymele: the focal spot acoustically of the orchestra (also called the “sweet spot”)

5. Greek Drama and Theatre - Theatres The hillside on which the Theatre of Dionysus was built

6. Tragedy Costumes Originally, actors smeared faces with paint to hide their identity. Later they wore elaborate costumes with wigs, makeup and masks. Stylized masks amplified emotion and acted as small megaphones to project the actor’s voice. kothornoi (high elevated boots or buskins) to add to size onkos (vertically elongated mask with a high head piece) Needed in order to allow all 20 000 of the audience to see and hear what was happening Costumes chosen by the playwight, paid for by the Choregos grotesque padding, masks, and phallus. Phallus a symbol of Dionysus – the god of theatre. A chiton – short sleeveless shirt was worn. A cloak draped around some actors - himation No fancy high buskins for comedies. Costumes in Comedy

7. Costumes The costumes in the ancient Greek theatre also have a symbolic significance in the way the production is understood. Since the hypocrits were all male, it was necessary to make them look female for female roles. "In order to have a female appearance, they were playing wearing the ‘prosterniad’ before the chest and the ‘progastrida’ before the belly. In order to look taller and more impressive they were wearing ‘cothornous’ (wooden shoes with tall heels)" The costumes allowed the audience to know who the actor was trying to portray. The most essential part of their disguise was the mask

8. Masks in Greek Drama Masks portrayed character types or character emotions to the entire audience, which could be up to 20,000 people crowded onto a hillside. These masks fit over the head, with a wig attached, and had large mouth openings so that speech would not be muffled. prevented the audience from identifying the face of any actor with one specific character allowed men to impersonate women without confusion helped the audience identify the sex, age, and social rank of the characters were often changed by the actors when they would exit after an episode to assume a new role

9. Masks prevented the audience from identifying the face of any actor with one specific character allowed men to impersonate women without confusion helped the audience identify the sex, age, and social rank of the characters were often changed by the actors when they would exit after an episode to assume a new role

10. Theatrical Machines (mechanai) The ekkyklema (“a wheeled-out thing”) was a cart on wheels which carried a dead body onto the stage. It was sacrilegious to show a character actually dying on the stage. The mechane (machine) was a crane-like machine that could lift a character up as if flying, or could carry an actor, usually in the guise of a god, to the top of the skene.

11. Theater of Epidauros (built 330 B.C., near modern day Nauplion, Greece)