1. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Ancient Greek theatres were quite different from modern ones. Summary of differences: Daytime only Outdoors No electronics (obviously!) including microphones Stone seats (cushions may be brought) Built into natural features such as hillsides Some could hold 20,000 people No scenery Sometimes temples or other religious sanctuaries were attached

3. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Key parts of the theatre: theatron orchestra parados skene altar diazoma proskenion mechane ekkyklema

4. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Made of stone Divided into wedges by paths Blocks assigned (often to tribes) Lowest seats were reserved for magistrates and other city officials Theatron seating area for the audience.

5. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Clear view of the actors – no pillars to block the view 35cm of leg room was allowed at the Theatre of Dionysus Theatron seating area for the audience.

6. Ancient Theatres - Theatres The theatre at Epidauros: accoustics impressive Theatron seating area for the audience.

8. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Orchestra dancing area for the chorus. NO INSTRUMENTS IN THE ORCHESTRA@!@ Most primitive and basic element of theatres – more important even than the audience area It was CIRCULAR in shape Smoothed dirt for dancing

9. Ancient Theatres - Theatres 12-15 members of a chorus and a flute-player – they stayed there throughout the play after their entrance In the centre, an altar…possibly moveable. Orchestra dancing area for the chorus. NO INSTRUMENTS IN THE ORCHESTRA@!@

10. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Parados entry paths for the chorus These were the entry paths for the actors – but more importantly for the chorus They also gave access to seats for the audience. Allowed a chorus to make an impressive entrance from two sides.

11. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Skene – stage building Began as a portable wooden structure in the earliest theatres, but later became a permanent building.

12. Ancient Theatres - Theatres There was always at least one door – for entrance and exit – also for the ekkyklema This building was used for storage of props, any scenery, warm-up space for actors, and sometimes a small temple was attached. Skene – stage building

13. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Front façade could be painted to indicate e.g. a palace, temple etc. Skene – stage building

14. Ancient Theatres - Theatres This is what survives of a skene in a Greek theatre in Turkey (at Priene) Skene – stage building

15. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Altar once again, this is the theatre at Priene, Turkey Often in the middle of the orchestra or, as here, close to the theatron. Suggestion that a goat was sacrificed on the first day of the festival – tragos is the Greek word for goat Could have been moved out of the way when the orchestra was used by the chorus

16. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Seating for priests

17. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Pathways around the theatron… how tedious! They allowed access to seating blocks Diazoma – path

18. Ancient Theatres - Theatres This is just a space in front of the skene before the orchestra Sometimes there were low, flat steps that allowed actors to stand above or apart. proskenion – acting area

19. Ancient Theatres - Theatres We do not know how this operated – or even what it really looked like, but it was some sort of crane device that allowed actors to move above the staging area. Mechane – crane

20. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Sometimes this allowed them to represent gods The expression ‘deus ex machina’ comes from this device. Mechane – crane

21. Ancient Theatres - Theatres We know even LESS about this!! Some people think that it was like part of a revolving stage, others think that it was just some sort of wheeled trolley device. Ekkyklema – wheeled device

22. Ancient Theatres - Theatres Used to bring esp. dead bodies from inside the skene out into public view. Death (esp. violent death ) was never shown on stage. Ekkyklema – wheeled device