The The Theatre:Theatre:

A Trip Through TimeA Trip Through Time

Primitive Primitive TheatreTheatre Theater first came from Theater first came from

primitive primitive societies societies through dance. through dance.

The dances were thought The dances were thought to get rid to get rid of evil spirits of evil spirits that caused disease that caused disease and and helped the souls of the dead helped the souls of the dead

reach the afterlife.reach the afterlife.

The performers The performers wore wore masks, which masks, which

represented the represented the spirits. spirits. They also They also wore costumes wore costumes made of animal made of animal skins, skins, rushes, and rushes, and bark from bark from trees. trees.

Primitive Primitive TheatreTheatre

Greek and Roman Greek and Roman TheaterTheater Dates from the 6Dates from the 6thth Century Century

BC BC and included plays that and included plays that had had

dealt with tragedy ordealt with tragedy or

comedy. comedy. Theatre first came from Theatre first came from

choral songs that dealt choral songs that dealt with with death and their god death and their god Dionysus. Dionysus.

Women were not allowed Women were not allowed to to perform. Early actors perform. Early actors were slaves, were slaves, but later but later actors were citizens.actors were citizens.

The scenery in the plays The scenery in the plays were were rocks and tombs. rocks and tombs. Thesbis was Thesbis was given credit given credit for for introducing masks introducing masks to the theater. to the theater.

Greek and Roman Greek and Roman TheaterTheater

Medieval Medieval TheaterTheater In early medieval times the In early medieval times the

church church stopped theater stopped theater performances, but performances, but later later assisted in its rebirth during assisted in its rebirth during the Middle Ages. the Middle Ages.

The performances were The performances were

done by priests and monks. done by priests and monks. Was the great period of Was the great period of

mystery mystery plays about biblical plays about biblical history. history.

Renaissance Renaissance TheaterTheater In the 16th century In the 16th century

worldly worldly plays were plays were performed in inns and performed in inns and hotels, then moved to hotels, then moved to theaters. theaters.

““The Theatre," was built The Theatre," was built just just outside of London in outside of London in 1576. Many 1576. Many others soon others soon followed, such as the followed, such as the very very famous Globe theater. famous Globe theater.