The Founding Greeks

1. The Founding Greeks The Origins of Theater

2. I. Our Earliest Theater • Myths - A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society • Because myths are a natural offshoot of the culture which created them, they accurately mirror the values and beliefs of that society.

3. I. Our Earliest Theater (Continued) • First Theater Participant The earliest record of a specific participant in a ritual or in theater was an Egyptian named Ikhernofretin about 1860 B.C. He was an actor in a religious play. • First Formal Theater The first known formal theater we know of was sometime between 1700 and 1400 B.C., on Crete, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It was performed by Greeks and was about one of their gods.

4. II. Greek Theater • The Greek Heritage • Original Greek theater consisted of a chorus, chanting together words of caution or stories of the gods and goddesses. • The first actor known to speak alone was Thespis, a Greek playwright, who stepped forth from the chorus and dared to speak alone in about 534 B.C. • The word Thespian which means actor is in honor of Thespis. • The first playwright, Aeschylus, was molded by this society.

5. Greek Theater (Continued) • The Greek Religion Greek theater evolved from religious rituals where their gods played a vital role in their plays. The Greek people believed that plays were for meant for entertainment and religious purposes.

6. Greek Theater (Continued) • The Greek Theaters amphitheater- a theater where the stage is the lowest point of the theater and the seats rise around it in a semi-circle so that the actors could be easily seen and heard

7. Greek Theaters (Continued) • Orchestras- the original Greek stage: it was circular and in the center of the seating area • Skene- originally the actors’ dressing tent but evolved into the scenic background • Proscenium- the main playing area in front

8. Theater at Epidaurus Theater at Ephesus

9. The Founding Greeks End Part I

10. The Founding Greeks Part II

11. D. Greek Theater Conventions Conventions – efficient ways of communicating that which everyone understands and accepts • Examples: a chorus, violence occurring offstage, curtain call, etc. Each character wore a mask

12. E. The "Greatness" of Greek Plays • Great playwrights have all tried to conform to the structure of Greek theater • Two problems make performances of Greek theater less popular and important to us today: • Greek language doesn’t translate well • There are many cultural differences that we don’t understand

13. F. Tragic Greek Playwrights Tragedy – a serious play with a protagonist who bravely faces troubles caused by his own actions or the actions of others • Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.) • Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) • Euripides (484-406 B.C.)

14. G. Comic Greek Playwrights Comedy – an upbeat or humorous play about daily life • Aristophanes (448-380 B. C) • Menander (342-291 B.C.)

15. H. Satyr Plays Satyrs - companions of Dionysus, the god of wind and revelry: half man-half beast Satyr Plays – short comic relief plays presented at the end of tragedies

16. The Founding Greeks End Notes