Theatre HistoryTheatre History

Classical TheatreClassical TheatreWhere did it begin?Where did it begin?

Ritual played an important role in the development of drama in the days of early people.

Ritual had a religious purpose, an instructive purpose, and an entertainment purpose.

Common elements found in ritual: music, dance, and elaborate movement, masks and costumes.

GreeceGreece

Dionysus- Greek god of wine and fertility

1200 BC in Greece, the “Cult of Dionysus” practiced ritual celebrations- Theatre became the centre of the celebrations.

A key part was the dithyramb- performed by a chorus of 50 men. (this was religion)

In 500 BC, we see the beginnings of Western theatre in Athens (2,000 years before Shakespeare!!!)

Drama competitions introduced us to Comedy and Tragedy. The dramatic festivals at which dramas were performed were called “The City Dionysia”- performed in the spring and the Lenaia and Rural Dionysia in the winter

*A Dithyramb was a lengthy hymn or choral ode in honor of *A Dithyramb was a lengthy hymn or choral ode in honor of Dionysus Dionysus

These competitions took place in Athens.Some plays that were given to us by the Greeks are

still performed today.Thespis added an actor to interact with the chorus and

won the first drama competition in 534 BC. “Thespians”

Aristotle (a Greek philosopher) tells us that one of the chorus leaders, Thespis, left the chorus, jumped onto the alter, and assumed the role of “the god”

Thespis was the firstPlaywright as well. He won the first Greek Tragedy contest in 534 BCE

Greek Mythology and DramaGreek Mythology and Drama

Greek Mythology is the legends and Greek Mythology is the legends and stories behind Greek gods. The stories behind Greek gods. The earliest Greek Dramas, drew their earliest Greek Dramas, drew their plots and characters from these plots and characters from these myths.myths.

PlaywrightsPlaywrightsThe following Greek playwrights were The following Greek playwrights were

famous for their Tragedies:famous for their Tragedies:

EuripidesEuripides

Aeschylus- Added the second actor- Aeschylus- Added the second actor- creating dialog.creating dialog.

Sophocles- Added a third actor.Sophocles- Added a third actor.

* Aeschylus is the first of the three whose work has survived. He won 13 dramatic contests. We have seven of the approximately 80 plays that he wrote, including the only complete trilogy: Orestia (458 BCE)

*Sophocles’ most important drama is Oedipus Tyrannos a.k.a. Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King.- It is ranked with Shakespeare’s Hamlet and King Lear

*We have more plays by Euripides than we do of Sophocles or Aeschylus.

PlaywrightsPlaywrights

Aristophanes and Menander wrote Aristophanes and Menander wrote ComediesComedies

Aristophanes is the only Greek comedy playwright whose work has survived

PlaywrightsPlaywrights

Each Greek playwright is significant due Each Greek playwright is significant due to their attributes to theatre. to their attributes to theatre.

Aeschylus,Aeschylus, for example, is considered the for example, is considered the earliest playwright and introduced the earliest playwright and introduced the idea of an antagonist. idea of an antagonist.

SophoclesSophocles added the concept of a third added the concept of a third actor to the play. actor to the play.

Euripides and Aristophanes Euripides and Aristophanes were known were known for developing plays with more dialogue for developing plays with more dialogue and realism.and realism.

Greek PlaysGreek Plays

Greek plays are written in a climactic Greek plays are written in a climactic structural pattern meaning that the structural pattern meaning that the intensity of the action increases to a intensity of the action increases to a point (the climax) until there is no point (the climax) until there is no where else to go but down (the where else to go but down (the falling action/resolution)falling action/resolution)

Greek Plays/VocabularyGreek Plays/VocabularyEach Tragic playwright would submit four plays for Each Tragic playwright would submit four plays for

competition: a *trilogy (3 plays), and *satyr.competition: a *trilogy (3 plays), and *satyr.*Only one satyr play has survived: *Only one satyr play has survived: Cyclops Cyclops by by

EuripidesEuripidesGreek VocabularyGreek Vocabulary

trilogytrilogy is a set of three short plays tied together by a is a set of three short plays tied together by a common plot line, character, or idea. common plot line, character, or idea.

satyr satyr was generally believed to have been a comic was generally believed to have been a comic treatment of the serious material that was covered treatment of the serious material that was covered in the tragedies. in the tragedies.

Deus ex Machina-Deus ex Machina- a Latin expression that literally a Latin expression that literally means God out of the machine. It is a playwriting means God out of the machine. It is a playwriting term used to describe a contrived ending. It means term used to describe a contrived ending. It means that the dramatic problem is not solved by that the dramatic problem is not solved by playwright’s characters, that a solution is forced playwright’s characters, that a solution is forced upon them by the playwright. upon them by the playwright.

Old and New Greek ComedyOld and New Greek Comedy

Old (written before 400 BCE)Old (written before 400 BCE)

New (after 400 BCE)New (after 400 BCE)

Old comedy Old comedy was political satire.was political satire.

New Comedy New Comedy dealt with domestic dealt with domestic affairs affairs

The competitionsThe competitions

Play competitions drew in as many as Play competitions drew in as many as 30,000 spectators. 30,000 spectators.

Because there was no electricity, the Because there was no electricity, the plays had to be held during the day. plays had to be held during the day.

Actors wore masks- some say which Actors wore masks- some say which helped to amplify the voice and show helped to amplify the voice and show characters through exaggerated characters through exaggerated features. features.

No Costumes or sets- the focus was on No Costumes or sets- the focus was on the chorus and later, the actors. the chorus and later, the actors.

Only Men acted.Only Men acted.

Fifth Century Greek TheatreFifth Century Greek TheatreThe theatre of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and The theatre of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and

Aristophanes, was a temporary wooden structure Aristophanes, was a temporary wooden structure built for the festival (built for the festival (City Dionysia)City Dionysia). It was . It was dismantled at the conclusion of the celebration. dismantled at the conclusion of the celebration.

The audience most likely sat on wooden benches, The audience most likely sat on wooden benches, while the actors and chorus performed on a dirt while the actors and chorus performed on a dirt floored acting area called the floored acting area called the orchestraorchestra..

A small wooden hut or tent, called a A small wooden hut or tent, called a skeneskene, was , was probably added in the middle of the fifth century. probably added in the middle of the fifth century.

The first permanent theatre was built under The first permanent theatre was built under Macedonian rule in the fourth century BCE.Macedonian rule in the fourth century BCE.

Ground plan of a Greek Ground plan of a Greek TheatreTheatre

Theatre of DionysusTheatre of Dionysus

This permanent Greek theatre was This permanent Greek theatre was built between 342 and 326 BCEbuilt between 342 and 326 BCE

Greek Theatre VocabularyGreek Theatre Vocabulary

Theatron- the semi-circular seating area. Theatron- the semi-circular seating area. Generally (but not always) carved out of Generally (but not always) carved out of the side of a hill. It is the source of our the side of a hill. It is the source of our word: theatre. “seeing place”word: theatre. “seeing place”

Orchestra- Circular area t the foot of the hill, Orchestra- Circular area t the foot of the hill, where the chorus and actors performed. where the chorus and actors performed.

Skene- The (palace or “scene house”)- had Skene- The (palace or “scene house”)- had atleast one to three openings that could atleast one to three openings that could be used as entrances. be used as entrances.

Machina- a crane mounted on the roof of the Machina- a crane mounted on the roof of the skene. It was used to lower gods into the skene. It was used to lower gods into the action of the play. Hence the term action of the play. Hence the term deus ex deus ex machina---God out of the machine.machina---God out of the machine.

The Greek ActorsThe Greek ActorsHow many actors were used in Greek tragedies?

It was depended upon the playwright.

Women did not perform on stage.

Acting in the Greek culture was considered an acceptable profession- this will not always be the case as we move throughout the history of theatre through different times and cultures.

The function of the chorus:

1. They were a character in the play- usually sympathetic to the protagonist

2. They presented the writers POV

3. They were the ideal spectator.

4. They broke the drama into scenes.

The CriticsThe Critics

Greek drama’s major critic was Greek drama’s major critic was Aristotle. Aristotle.

384-322 BCE384-322 BCE

He wrote about 100 years after He wrote about 100 years after Sophocles major tragedies were Sophocles major tragedies were produced. produced.

The Poetics- the sourece of six The Poetics- the sourece of six elements of dramatic structure. elements of dramatic structure.