GREEK THEATRE
Objective: To analyze the
rudiments of theatre
history through Greek
Theatre.
What do you know already about
Greek Theatre?
What do you think it’s about?
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
VIDEO OF GREEK THEATRE
 Use the Video Website
KNOWLEDGE YOU KNOW
What do you already
know about the Greek
Culture?
CULTURE
Culture that flourished between 550 – 220 B.C.
Three dramatic genres to emerge
•Tragedy (late 6th century BC),
•comedy (486 BC),
•Satyr play three dramatic genres
•Western theatre originates in Athens
FIRST ACTOR
Thespis
First Recorded Playwright
Winner of the First Theatrical festival in
Athens
Root of the Word Thespian
Actors today are called thespians
THE SPACE
Choruses of up to 50 people, in the orchestra
Of ten daytime into nightfall
Could hold up to 14,000 people
Acoustics – actors voices need to be heard
Of ten times the seats were built into a natural hill
Skene – area where the backdrop or scenery was placed
actors could change behind the skene
Death happened behind the skene because it was inappropriate to
display death. It could however, be heard
Paradoi – where actors could make entrances and exits
THE SPACE CONTINUED . . .
 machina, a crane that gave the impression of a flying
actor (thus, deus ex machina).
 ekkyklema, a wheeled wagon used to bring dead
characters into view for the audience
 trap doors, or similar openings in the ground to lift
people onto the stage
 Pinakes, pictures hung into the scene to show a
scene's scenery
 Thyromata, more complex pictures built into the
second-level scene (3rd level from ground)
 Phallic props were used for satyr plays, symbolizing
fertility in honor of Dionysus.
THE SPACE
GREECE
THE ACTORS
At first there were no actors, only
poets
By the end, actors were being
chosen by the state because the
success of the play depended on
the success of the actors .
THE CHORUS
Up to the point when Sophocles imported his innovations in
drama, the chorus had 12 members. Sophocles added three
more. The 15 members of the chorus were entering the
orchestra in rows ( usually face=3, depth=5 ), which means
that although in old dithyramb the chorus was making a
circle, in ancient theater the chorus was making squares. The
leader of the chorus ("Cor yphaios") was in the middle of the
first row. Cor yphaios was a professional dancer and singer.
The rest of the chorus consisted of amatures chosen by the
poet and payed by the sponsor (choregos)
The chorus was entering from the two "parodoi". His
appearance was depending on the play. For the tragedy the
chorus was very solemn and it was called "emmelia". In
comedies it was funny and it was called "codrax", when in
satiric drama it was scoptic and it was called "sicinnis".
The chorus, was considered to be the mouthpiece of society (in
its humble form) and morality, and they were suf fering along
with the heroes. Its role (very important at first) was fading
during the time.
MASKS
Masks were often used
To over-exaggerate the facial
expressions because some audience
members were so far away
Distinguish sex, age, social status
Reveals a change in character
OTHER COSTUMES
Tragic Characters wore boots to lift them up
called :: Cothumuses
Comedic Characters often just wore soft sole
shoes :: Sock
prosterneda – Imitate Breasts
progastreda - Imitate Belly
STRUCTURE OF THE PLAY
 Prologue: Spoken by one or two characters before
the chorus appears. The prologue usually gives the
mythological background necessary for
understanding the events of the play.
 Parodos: This is the song sung by the chorus as it
first enters the orchestra and dances.
 First Episode: This is the first of many "episodes",
when the characters and chorus talk.
STRUCTURE OF THE PLAY CONTINUED
 First Stasimon: At the end of each episode, the the
chorus dances and sings a stasimon. Re-cap of what
happens and foreshadows what’s to come.
 First Stasimon and Episodes Alternate until the final
scene. . .
 Exodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a
processional song which usually offers words of
wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the
play.
THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS
Greek Machines
FAIRY TALES IN GREEK THEATRE
Use the knowledge you have gained about the Greek Theatre
and stage a fairy tale.