Ancient Greek Theatre
An introduction to Oedipus and
Antigone
Origins of Theatre
Theatre began with religious festivals in
honor of Dionysus
During the spring, they held a festival in Athens
called City Dionysia
Men would perform songs to welcome and honor
Dionysus (these were called dithyrambs)
Plays were only presented during this festival
Chorus: group of about fifty who sang and danced
Athenians spread these festivals to its allies in
order to promote a common identity
There were three t
|ypes of plays: |
|tragedy, comedy, and
satyr|
Origins of Tragedy
Thespis (6th century BC)
Known as the “father of drama”
Won a prize for tragedy in 535 B.C.
Considered the first Greek actor and
originator of tragedy
Was said to have introduced the first actor
and thus, dialogue
Tragedy originally meant “Goat song,”
possibly because goats were sacrificed to
Dionysus prior to performances
Aristotle’s Poetics is the first known
theory about Greek tragedy.
He said tragedy evolved from
dithyrambs, songs sung in
praise of Dionysus
Dithyrambs were originally
frenzied and improvised
By the 600s B.C., the poet
Arion is credited with
organizing the song into a
formal narrative with a
chorus
Three main tragedy poets:
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and
Euripides
Aeschylus
525-426 B.C.
Most Famous Works:
Oresteia
Contributions:
Added a second
actor to the stage
Create trilogies
based on unified themes
Sophocles
496-406 B.C.
Famous Works:
Oedipus Cycle (Oedipus Rex,
Antigone, Oedipus and Colonus)
Contributions:
Added a third actor to the
stage
Fixed the number of chorus to
15
Introduced painted scenery
Created each play of a trilogy
as separate in nature
Euripides
486-406 B.C.
Famous Works:
Medea, Electra
Contributions:
Reduced the participation of the
Chorus in the main action on stage
Relied on heavy prologues and deux
ex machina endings
Deus ex machina: literally, “god from the
machine;” where an actor playing a god
was lowered onto the stage using a crane.
The gods were used to solve “unsolvable”
problems at the end of the play.
Origins of Comedy
There is no trace of the
origin of comedy
Comedic plays were derived
from imitation
Aristophanes wrote the
majority of comedy plays
11 surviving plays by
Aristophanes
The Theatre Structure
Theatron: seeing place where audience sat
Orchestra: Circular dancing place where
actors and Chorus performed.
Thymele: altar to Dionysus in center of
orchestra.
Skene: building used as a dressing room.
Proskenion: front of skene building which
served as backdrop
Parados: entrance to theater used by
Chorus.
Theatre (you should know this)
Actors
Hypocrites- the answerer-playing roles
Actor and dramatist originally the sameplaywright took leading role
Never have more than three-changed
characters (protagonist, deuteragonist,
tritagonist)
All male performers; played female roles as
well.
Costumes and Masks
Long flowing robes were colored
symbolically
High boots, often with raised soles
Larger than life masks, made of linen,
wood, and/or cork
Identified age, gender, and emotion
Used exaggerated features, such as large
eyes and an open mouth
Music and Dance
Choral odes often had musical
accompaniment:
Flute
Lyre
Percussion
Dance was defined as
expressive rhythmical
movement
Role of the Chorus
To set the overall mood and express theme
Add beauty to the play through song and
dance
Give background information
Divides the action and offers reflection
and commentary on events
Questions, advises, and expresses opinion—
usually through the chorus leader
Conventions of Theatre
Unities
Action- simple plot
Time- single day
Place- one scene throughout
Messenger
Tells news happening away from scene
Report acts of violence not allowed to be seen
Limitations of Theater
Continuous presence of Chorus
No intermissions, continuous flow of action and
choral odes
No lighting; no curtains