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Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre. Greek Theatre. Athenian – 5 th – 4 th century BC Result of a contest; each playwright submitted a trilogy of tragedy and one satyr play Much pageantry and a winner at the end of each week Combination of myth, philosophy, music and dance Explored the violence of living.

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Greek Theatre

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  1. Greek Theatre

  2. Greek Theatre • Athenian – 5th – 4th century BC • Result of a contest; each playwright submitted a trilogy of tragedy and one satyr play • Much pageantry and a winner at the end of each week • Combination of myth, philosophy, music and dance • Explored the violence of living

  3. The First Theatre? • The famous Dionysan theatre was built into the mountain that housed the famed Acropolis.

  4. The Academy Awards • The Dionysia was a spring celebration of the fertility god Dionysus – known as the Festival of Dionysus • The last 3 days of the festival was dedicated to 3 writers and their tragedies. • The winner received a lily wreath. • Famous competitors: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripedes.

  5. Order of Festival Days • Day 1 – proagon – plays announced • Day 2 – processions, parades, sacrifices • Day 3 – performance of the first five comedies • Day 4-6 – performance of tragedies • Day 7 – judging and awards

  6. The Dionysia: Athens

  7. The Three Tragedians • Aeschylus – used two men as actors; one talking to the other • Sophocles – used three actors; each played several parts • Euripedes – used even more actors; angered the Greeks because he showed the Greeks and gods in a sometimes negative light as they really were; portrayed strong female character; killed by wild dogs

  8. The Legend of Thespis • The "inventor of tragedy" was born in Attica • The first prize winner at the Great Dionysia in 534 BC. • He was an important innovator for the theatre, introduced: the independent actor masks make up costumes

  9. More About Thespis • Thespis walked around Athens pulling a handcart, setting up a kind of one man play, where he showed the bad behavior of man. • The word for actor " thespian" comes from his name. • His contemporary Solon resented him, with the claim that what Thespis showed on stage would soon be acted out in reality as well.

  10. Actors • Men only -- one actor played several parts • wore high-heeled boots to add stature • masks often fitted with megaphones

  11. Parts of the Greek Stage • theatron – the theatre • skene – changing room • altar – middle of stage • chitons – brightly colored robes • onkoi – wigs • kothurnoi – shoes on small stilts • masks – had built in megaphones for amplification; masks for comedies were always def

  12. Parts of a Greek Theatre

  13. Dodoni Ancient Greek Theatre • Theatres were built into sides of hills so that they could harness the natural acoustics.

  14. Theatre at Delphi

  15. Theatre at Argos

  16. Theater of Epidaurus • Restored during the 1950’s. Can accommodate an audience of 14,000 • Used for modern performances of ancient drama.

  17. Example Theatre Stage

  18. Masks • Masked actors performed outdoors in daylight before audiences of 10,000 or more at festivals.

  19. Masks • Masks were used to show facial expression.

  20. Masks • The use of masks enabled 1 actor to play several parts in one play.

  21. Masks • Victorian excavations of Pompeii revealed what might be considered ancient wallpaper.

  22. Masks • Roman Actors with their masks

  23. Greek Modesty • No censorship of events. • However, Greeks very polite on stage. • all spectacular action (death, murder, adultery) happens off stage -- only described.

  24. Functions of the Chorus • represents the feelings or morals of the characters or audience • gives important background information • summarizes events • comments on action or gives advice to the characters

  25. Prologue: a preface or an introduction Parados: marks the entrance of the Chorus when they first enter Stasimon: songs the Chorus sings in Greek tragedy between episodes Episode: the main action of the play; in Greek drama it refers to that part of a tragedy presented between two stasimons Exodus: conclusion of the play Exeunt: another word for “Exit” Structure of Greek Tragedy

  26. Greek Drama Unities • Time – real time • Place – all in one place • Action – continuous action in one place • no violence is seen on stage

  27. Roman Empire: 4th and 5th Centuries B.C.E. • Romans adopt Greek fascination with theatre • Want more SPECTACLE • renovate Greek theatres (destroyed in war) • add a story to tiring houses (more costumes, props, and set construction) • save slaves to perform live out death scenes.

  28. Greeks mostly just one set actors with huge masks few props Romans more elaborate sets still use masks many props action on stage Sets

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