1. HISTORY OF GREEK THEATER
IT’S GREEK TO ME!
HISTORY OF GREEK THEATER

2. GREEK THEATER Location—Athens Time--5th Century 4 playwrights
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
Aristophanes
43 surviving works

3. Greek Theater Theater of Dionysus at Athens
Spectacle of loud music and vivid colors
Dancing
Chanting
Bawdy—obscene
Scandalous
Violent

4. Greek Theater Origins in religion Dionysus-god of wine
Week long festivals
Held in spring (March)
Priests danced and chanted odes to Dionysus
Choric Dithyrambs

5. Greek Theater
Tragedy (tragos) “goat song” developed out of the dithyrambs
Everyone attended festivals—state paid for tickets for the poor
Plays set to the light of day
Timing became important
Contests held for best play
4 plays were offered—a trilogy and a satyr play
Prize—an ivy garland worn by both author and his patron— eventually the prize was gold coins

6. Greek Theater

7. Greek Theater Theater could hold as many as 15,000- 20,000 people
The theater was rebuilt in the 4th century using stone— wood was used in the time of the earliest playwrights

8. Greek Theater Theatron-seeing place Orchestra-acting area
Skene-costume building
Parados-entrance and exit

9. Greek Theater Costumes: chiton—tunic onkus—head piece mask
cothurnis—thick soled
shoes

10. Greek Theater
Scenery was eventually added to the plays in the form of periaktois---three sided structures which could be turned to indicated a different place

11. Greek Theater Format of the Plays
Greek theater evolved from ritual and dance with a strong choral focus to a greater emphasis upon dramatic action.
The choric dithyrambs were originally about the death and resurrection of Dionysus-- god of wine and feritlity.

12. Greek Chorus
First function of the chorus was as narrator.
When the first actor stepped out of the chorus and assumed a role, the chorus was able to assume a role as well--- if actor was playing a god---chorus could be worshipers.
Chorus worked within limits of the action or outside of the action as commentator s.
Chorus provided commentary, asked questions, gave opinions and warnings, reinforced facts, separated episodes, and served as spokespeopl e for member of the community.
As the number of actors increased from one to three, the chorus decreased from 50 to
Members of the chorus were from the general population
Chorus members were unpaid volunteers doing their civic duty.
Rehearsal was likely 4 months of more.

13. Greek Chorus
Choruses did not rehearse in the theater to keep plays a surprise
Choruses were trained and costumed at state expense or through a wealthy patron.
The sponsorship paid the patron’s taxes and got his name on a monument.
Early dramatists (Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides) probably taught their own choruses.
Main purpose was to bridge the gap between the audience and the players and to intensify emotions.
Songs and dance enlarged the action and relieved tension.

14. Greek Chorus

15. Greek Chorus
Flutes, lyres, horns, drums, and bells were the instruments used to create music for the chorus.

16. Greek Masks

17. Greek Masks

18. Greek Masks Made from clay, wood, linen, and leather.
Allowed actors to play several different roles, including females.
Helped audience to see and understand characters because of highly exaggerated features.
Actors had to use their bodies to enhance emotions.
Actors mastered a range of vocal expressions.
Projection enhanced---worked like a megaphone.