The FIRST Theatres Ancient Greece

1. The FIRST Theatres Ancient Greece • Almost every Greek city had a theatre because plays were part of many religious festivals • performed to honor Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of harvest and wine • The Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to categorize the parts of drama and tragedy • drama competitions with winners for playwriting and performing.

2. ARISTOTLE

3. Aristotle's Six Elements of Drama • 1. Plot (the incidents or story line) • 2. Character (physical, social, psychological, moral--people represented in the play) • 3. Thought/Theme (insights into humanity and life • 4. Music (all sound) • 5. Spectacle (scenery and other visual elements) • 6. Language and Diction

4. The FIRST Theatre • They built huge outdoor theaters on hillsides -hold several thousand people..

5. Dionysus theatre today • The entire seating section was called the Theatron, • which is the origin of our word theatre

6. Masks • viewers who sat in the back could not seethe actor's expressions—used… • masks were worn TRY and show various emotions such as grief, anger, or happiness. • represented their character

7. Dionysian masks What could be the problem with the use of masks?

8. Warm-upBand G tongue twister

9. Men acted out all the parts of the drama, even the women's roles. Thespis • Thespis walked around Athens, Greece pulling a handcart, setting up his one man plays, where he showed the bad behavior of man. • The "inventor of tragedy“ • The word for actor, “thespian”, comes from his name. • he introduced such things as one actor on stage (as opposed to just a chorus) as well as masks & costumes.

10. Aeschylus • Aeschylus added a second actor to the performance, --possibility of conflict.

11. Sophocles • Sophocles adds a third actor; now we have full-blown drama • Changed play set up

12. Masksanother challenge?

13. masks • Emotions • Actor first had to have skill of using their body without words—gestures were important • When the means of facial expression is removed, communication is difficult.  So, we need to use our whole bodies for expression. 

14. Mask improv • everyone a chance to perform. • Hand out improv scenarios- Call you up -Choose a mask. I might yell out freeze so we can discuss a point. • Remember: "present the mask"--to face the audience so that the mask and its expression are visible.  OBSERVE:  • How did the performers' movements and body language seem to change the masks?  • what is most and least clear about the scenario, and what is most and least persuasive?

15. Three types of drama • Tragedy - plays about love, loss, pride, the abuse of power. These were often about the gods and men. Usually one character commits a great crime, then realizes his error. • Comedy – Made fun of men in power. • Satyr - short plays were performed between the acts of tragedies. They made fun of the predicament of the tragedy's characters.

16. So what does it all mean? • Big Theatre • Big Characters • Big Emotions • Big Consequences- for one person! Who could that be? Who commented on this character?

17. Chorus12-15 • never just a bunch of random people.  They were the elders -- the people of a particular city, and so have a stake of some kind in the story. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mffooSAysnE&feature=related • function: to comment, respond, witness, compare, make public, make sense of events • NOTto advance the plot • remained in the orchestra throughout the play and sang and danced choral songs between the episodes

18. Chorusorchestral leader “To Be” • Goal: speak the lines as one voice when necessary • Pay attention to the directions! • Back up on stage…. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okdnlziSdPo&feature=related

19. Set up of Greek plays • We have Act/Scene • PrologueCharacters speak, perhaps directly to the audience.  The lines tell us what the play is going to be about, and what you think the audience will learn from it. ParadosChorus, in unison, tells us what has happened before the beginning of the action of the play.  • Episode 1Characters, in masks, of course, act out the beginning of the action of the play.  Choral Ode 1Chorus speaks about something connected with the theme of the story, but not necessarily about the story itself.--the chorus would probably also "dance" at this point.   

20. Structure cont…. • Episode 2Characters act out the next part of the story, again with choral comment.Choral Ode 2(repeat Choral Ode 1) • Final EpisodeCharacters act out the end of the story. ExodusAs or after the characters leave, the chorus tells us what we have learned from the story.

21. PANDORA’S BOX

22. MYTH about the first woman on earth who was given a box and told not to open it and the tragic consequences that occurred because of pride and curiosity.

23. Goals • hand out scripts/parts- 5 roles • Chorus is most important role in Greek Theatre- I will play orchestral director like we did in “To Be or Not To Be” • Let’s say the chorus are the “friends” of the main characters • 10 minutes silently read over parts….

24. Review • Theatre started with the Greeks • By whom? • Name 6 elements • Thespis- 1st actor/ winner of competition • Aeschylus 2nd actor • Sophocles 3rd actor • Plays included a chorus that commented on how the characters were suppose to live their lives well • 3 types of drama --name them • Theatron was associated to what part of the theatre? • In order, name the format or structure of a Greek play

25. Test on all info on this power point • 1st test for quarter 2 • To be given the day after we finish performing Pandora’s Box, and BEFORE we begin making masks and Antigone