http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSRLK7
SogvE
The Origins

 Festival of Dionysus (the god of wine and fertility),
each performance was presented as part of
competition.
 Original performances were presented as a chorus,
large groups speaking in unison to tell legends and
myths.
 Thespis, whose name was the basis for the term
“thespian” was the first to step out of the chorus and
speak independently.
Tragedies

 The term tragoida (goat song) was used to describe
events because the songs were sung before
sacrificing a goat, or the prize was a goat.
 This term is the basis for our modern term “tragedy”
 Main plays of the time were tragedies based on
mythology and often included the gods as characters
watching and manipulating the action.
 Common examples of tragedies are Oedipus Rex and
Antigone.
Comedies

 Shorter comedies and satyr plays were performed
between tragedies.
 Aristophanes was the main comedic playwright in
the 5th century.
 His plays were much shorter than tragedies and
were often based on human interactions rather than
myths and gods.
 Most popular plays include Lysistrata and The Frogs.
Greek Chorus

 The Greek chorus was the center of all plays with the
playwright portraying all the other characters.
 The chorus was used not only to portray character
but also to show the audience how to respond, to set
the mood, or to provide pauses in the action where
the audience could reflect on and anticipate the
story.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quLkooLxsO4
Evolution of the actor

 After Thespis stepped out from the chorus, more
playwrights followed suit.
 Aeschylus introduced a second actor who was minimally
used outside the chorus.
 Sophocles removed himself entirely from the
performances of his plays and had three actors.
 By the time of Euripides, the chorus was generally on the
peripheral, used often as council members or a character’s
conscience.
 Tragic actors eventually had their own additional contest
during the festival.
Costumes and Masks

 Methods of costuming are not readily agreed upon
because there is little mention of specific costumes in
surviving text and pictorial evidence is contradictory.
 Use of masks is readily agreed upon.
 Original masks covered the entire head and included
appropriate hairstyles.
 Purpose of masks was the make changes in character clear
because one actor played all the parts.
 Masks were made out of lightweight wood and linen and,
after Aeschylus were usually painted.
Masks

Theatre Architecture

 Ancient architecture was
very basic, starting as a
rectangular performance
area with open seating on
two sides.
 The skene was a temporary
building behind the stage
used for a changing area.
 The skene usually had one or
more doors that opened
onto the stage, and either a
roof or second level built as
additional playing area,
generally for the gods.
Transition to Roman

 The Hellenistic period formed a
bridge between Greek and
Roman Theatre.
 The architecture developed
greatly in this time.
 The stage was raised to between
13 and 18 feet high.
 It was up to 140 feet long and
between six and half and 14 feet
deep.
 Ramps were introduced to
connect the stage to the orcestra.
 The skene became two full stories,
each with it’s own façade.
Assignment

 In groups of 5 to 7, you will choose a chorus scene
from an ancient Greek play.
 You will bring materials to make masks based on
your characters (paper plates, construction paper,
glue, markers, etc).
 You will have one full week (beginning tomorrow
10/2) to make your masks and rehearse your scenes.
 LINES MUST BE MEMORIZED.
 Performances will take place 10/09 and 10/10.
 There will be a QUIZ 10/11.