1. Roman Theatre The Swaggering Soldier by Plautus

4. Origins of Roman Theatre Like most things in Rome, the ideas came from Greece, in the 3 rd century BC. Like most things in Rome, the ideas came from Greece, in the 3 rd century BC. - layout of theatre - definition of comedy - ‘stock’ characters

5. Layout

6. Meanings of words Pulpitum - stage Pulpitum - stage Vomitoria - exits Vomitoria - exits Scenae – backdrop behind stage (stage building) Scenae – backdrop behind stage (stage building) Orchestra – semi-circular area in front of stage for dancers and chorus Orchestra – semi-circular area in front of stage for dancers and chorus Praccinto – passages from which actors enter and leave Praccinto – passages from which actors enter and leave Porticus - colonnade Porticus - colonnade

7. Theatre Marcellus

8. A definition of comedy “A play written chiefly to amuse its audience by appealing to a sense of superiority over the characters.” “A play written chiefly to amuse its audience by appealing to a sense of superiority over the characters.” “A comedy will normally be closer to the representation of everyday life than tragedy, and will explore common human failings rather than tragedy’s disasterous crimes.” “A comedy will normally be closer to the representation of everyday life than tragedy, and will explore common human failings rather than tragedy’s disasterous crimes.” -Oxford dictionary of literary terms

9. New Comedy Romans adopted ‘New Comedy’. Romans adopted ‘New Comedy’. Young lovers go through misadventures among other stock characters. Young lovers go through misadventures among other stock characters. A stock character is one easily recognised by the audience because they appear again and again. A stock character is one easily recognised by the audience because they appear again and again.

10. Stock characters Greek actors wore masks so that the audience would be able to recognise their emotions from far away (anger, sadness etc…) Greek actors wore masks so that the audience would be able to recognise their emotions from far away (anger, sadness etc…) However, in Rome, they wore mask so that the audience could recognise the stock characters. However, in Rome, they wore mask so that the audience could recognise the stock characters.

11. Examples of stock characters The Fisherman The Fisherman The Farmer The Farmer The Superstitious Man The Superstitious Man The Peevish Man The Peevish Man The Promiser The Promiser The Heiress The Heiress The Priestess The Priestess The False Accuser The False Accuser The Misogynist The Misogynist The Hated Man The Hated Man The Shipmaster The Shipmaster The Slave The Slave The Concubine The Concubine The Soldiers The Soldiers The Widow The Widow The Noise-Shy Man The Noise-Shy Man

12. Stock characters in ‘The Swaggering Soldier’. Pyrgopolynices – the over-confident soldier Pyrgopolynices – the over-confident soldier Philocomasium – the concubine or prostitute Philocomasium – the concubine or prostitute Palaestro, Sceledrus, Lurcio – the slaves Palaestro, Sceledrus, Lurcio – the slaves

13. From Greece to Rome The Romans called their adaptations of Greek comedies fabulae palliatae ('plays in a Greek cloak'). The Romans called their adaptations of Greek comedies fabulae palliatae ('plays in a Greek cloak'). The fabulae palliatae had characters with Greek names in Greek settings, but the audience understood that the characters were essentially Roman. The fabulae palliatae had characters with Greek names in Greek settings, but the audience understood that the characters were essentially Roman. This practice allowed the playwright to turn Roman mores upside down without upsetting the audience or undermining Roman morality. This practice allowed the playwright to turn Roman mores upside down without upsetting the audience or undermining Roman morality.

14. Ch-ch-ch-changes Perhaps the most common inversion of Roman values in Roman comedy is the mockery of the father. Perhaps the most common inversion of Roman values in Roman comedy is the mockery of the father. In real Roman society, the father's power (patria potestas) was legally undisputed. In real Roman society, the father's power (patria potestas) was legally undisputed. A father had the power of life and death over his family and his household (especially slaves). A father had the power of life and death over his family and his household (especially slaves).

15. In comedy, however, the son with the help of a brash slave regularly outwit the father and make a fool of him. In comedy, however, the son with the help of a brash slave regularly outwit the father and make a fool of him. In many plays, the slave is the central character who dominates the action. In many plays, the slave is the central character who dominates the action. The Greek setting of the plays and the Greek names of the characters made this situation suitable for Roman audiences and authorities. The Greek setting of the plays and the Greek names of the characters made this situation suitable for Roman audiences and authorities.