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Greek Theatre. Theatre history. Time Period. Ancient Greece-550-400 B.C. First Play festival 534 B.C. Dionysis. Play festivals were in honor of the Greek god Dionysis . Dionysis was the god of: wine & fertility Believed to receive many children, rich land & abundant crops.
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Greek Theatre Theatre history
Time Period • Ancient Greece-550-400 B.C. • First Play festival 534 B.C.
Dionysis • Play festivals were in honor of the Greek god Dionysis. • Dionysis was the god of: wine & fertility • Believed to receive many children, rich land & abundant crops.
Types of Plays • Tragedies • Sophocles-Oedipus the King • Aeschylus • Euripides • Comedies • Aristophanes-Lysistrata
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 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. • 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.
Thespis • First recorded Choregus to speak alone • First theatrical contest winner of festival in Athens • Whom we derive the word Thespian • Thespian=Actor
Chorus • Action of the Greek play was sound and dance, by a group of men and boys • Up to 50 cast members • Narrator of the plays plot, considered mouthpiece of society
Theatre Festival • Held in Athens, Dionysia & Ephesus • Honored Dionysis • Late March to beginning of April • Play performed from dawn til dusk
Performance space terminology • Orchestra- Ground level, circular floor, performance space. • Skene– area where the backdrop or scenery was placed. • Paradoi – where actors could make entrances and exits • Machina- a crane that gave the impression of a flying actor • Ekkyklema- a wheeled wagon used to bring dead characters into view for the audience • Pinakes- pictures hung into the scene to show a scene's scenery
Mask • Used for amplification • Over-exaggerated facial expression • Distinguished • Sex • Age • Social status • Character