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Explore the origins of Ancient Greek theatre, the role of actors, masks, costumes, and the influential playwrights Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides in the Classical Greece era.
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Timeline • Ancient Greek theatre flourished in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. • During this time, Greece was defeating the Persians in numerous wars. • Athens became the centre of Greek power and culture. • This period is known as ‘Classical Greece’ • Much of the West’s thinking, politics, and philosophy comes from this society
Origins of the Theatre • Initially, Greek drama was performed in village festivals. It soon moved to Athens and became a major annual event and competition. • Dramatists were asked to submit four plays – three tragedies and one comedy. • The plays would be performed over three days, and a prize would be given on the third day for the winner. This was one of the greatest honours an Athenian could receive.
Staging • Greek theatres were always outdoors. • The stage consisted of an orchestra for the chorus and a stage for the actors. A ‘skene’ (scene) was introduced – a backdrop or wall that stood behind the stage. • This later became a stone construct and is where today’s proscenium originates. • The theatres were carefully constructed to maximise acoustics.
Actors • Originally, plays were just a Chorus – a group of 50 speakers who recited a story in verse • Traditional drama really began when an actor named Thespis had the idea for one person to break away from the chorus and reply to what they said. • The chorus quickly shrank to 15 speakers, with three actors performing on stage.
Actors • The Chorus would narrate the drama and comment on what was happening. They would be asking the questions the audience would want to ask. • Meanwhile, three actors would be on stage performing numerous roles
Masks and Costume • The actors would change roles by using masks. • They would be made of natural materials such as wood, linen, leather, or cork. Human or animal hair would be used for a wig. • The mouth would be wide to magnify the actor’s voice. • They were designed to show age, gender, and emotion.
Masks and Costume • Costumes also helped the actors change role. They would wear robes in striking colours • The audience would associate certain attributes with costumes, e.g. purple for royalty, trailing robes for grief, a hat signified a character was taking a journey
The Chorus • The Chorus is one of the most famous relics of the Greek theatre • Its purpose was to speak in unison, effectively as one loud voice • The Chorus would comment on what was happening, express an opinion, or narrate the story. Occasionally, an individual would come forward from the Chorus to speak • The Chorus would represent a group of people within the context of the play – e.g. Elders
The Chorus • The chorus would wear plain masks and plain robes to distinguish them from the main actors • Their function was aural, not visual. • They would stay in the Orchestra while the actors remained on stage.
Summary • Greek theatre flourished in the 5th and 4th Centuries B.C. • Stages were outdoors and the audience were sat in a semicircle around the stage • A maximum of three actors were used in the drama, with 15 speakers in the Chorus • The chorus narrates and comments on the drama. They speak in unison • Masks and costumes were used to distinguish between the actors’ various roles
Sophocles • Sophocles was one of the most famous Greek playwrights • He regularly won the competitions at the theatre festivals • He wrote a very famous tragedy called ‘King Oedipus’ or ‘Oedipus Rex’
Aeschylus • Aeschylus was the first of classical Athens’ great dramatists. • He grew up in the turbulent period when the Athenian democracy had to prove itself against both self-seeking politicians at home and invaders from abroad. • Aeschylus himself took part in his city’s first struggles against the invading Persians. • His most famous plays are the Oresteia and The Persians.
Euripides • last of classical Athens’ three great tragic dramatists, following Aeschylus and Sophocles. • He was the least successful of the three in competitions. However more of his plays have survived. • Aristophanes regularly poked fun at him in his comedies, showing his disdain but perhaps also proving Euripides’ importance.
