Greek Theatre

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Greek Theatre
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Dionysus (or Dionysos also known as Bacchus in
both Greek and Roman mythology) the Thracian
god of wine, represents not only the
intoxicating power of wine, but also its social
and beneficent influences. He is viewed as the
promoter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover
of peace as well as the patron deity of both
agriculture and the theatre.  Dionysus is the
son of Zeus and Semele. Theatre evolved from
festivals honoring this god.
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Greek Theatre began as a formalized narrative
sung by a chorus.
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Then, in the 500s B.C.E., a poet names Thespis is
credited with innovating a new style in which a
solo actor performed the speeches of the
characters in the narrative (using masks to
distinguish between the different characters.)
The actor spoke and behaved as if he were the
character, and he interacted with the chorus, who
acted as narrators and commentators. Thespis is
therefore considered the first actor.
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In 471, B.C.E., the dramatist Aeschylus innovated
a second actor, thus making dialogue between
characters possible on stage.
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Around 468 B.C.E., Sophocles introduced a third
actor making more complex dramatic situations
possible. Three actors subsequently became the
formal convention (the actors could still play
more than one character, distinguishing between
them with masks.)
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Although there were many playwrights in this era,
only the work of four playwrights has survived in
the form of complete plays. All are from
Athens. Aeschylus Sophocles
Euripides Aristophenes
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Tragedy and comedy were viewed as completely
separate genres, and no plays ever merged aspects
of the two.
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Greek Theatres were large, open-air structures
built on the slopes of hills.
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Parados
Skene
Orchestra
Theatron
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The cast of a Greek play was comprised of
amateurs, not professionals. The casts were all
male. With such a large space to fill, ancient
Greek actors needed to gesture grandly so that
all could see and hear the story. Most Greek
theatres were cleverly constructed to transmit
even the smallest sound to any seat.
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Exaggerated costumes, platform boots, gloves
and masks all helped the Greek actor communicate
with an audience a great distance away.
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A distinctive mask was made for each character in
a play. The masks were made of linen or cork.
None survive but are depicted in art work. The
masks for tragedy and comedy were discernable by
the shape of the mouth. An actors entire head
was covered by the mask, which included hair.
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Modern day Greek Theatre masks created by 6th
grade students.
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Many modern productions of Greek tragedies
incorporate the use of masks on the actors in the
chorus.
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The legacy of the Greek mask can be seen in
todays use of theatrical makeup to create
character.
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Greek tragedy has a formal structure that is
fairly simple. After a prologue spoken by one or
more characters, the chorus enters, singing and
dancing. Scenes then alternate between spoken
sections (dialogue between characters, and
between characters and chorus) and sung sections
(during which the chorus danced.)
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The work of these ancient playwrights remains
popular today and is studied and produced around
the world. Sophocles tragedy Antigone, written
in 442 B.C.E., is one of the most popular.