2 Greek Theatre Athenian – 5th – 4th century BC Result of a contest; each playwright submitted a trilogy of tragedy and one satyr playMuch pageantry and a winner at the end of each weekCombination of myth, philosophy, music and danceExplored the violence of living
3 The First Theatre?The famous Dionysan theatre was built into the mountain that housed the famed Acropolis.
4 The Academy AwardsThe Dionysia was a spring celebration of the fertility god Dionysus – known as the Festival of DionysusThe last 3 days of the festival was dedicated to 3 writers and their tragedies.The winner received a lily wreath.Famous competitors: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripedes.
5 Order of Festival Days Day 1 – proagon – plays announced Day 2 – processions, parades, sacrificesDay 3 – performance of the first five comediesDay 4-6 – performance of tragediesDay 7 – judging and awards
7 The Three TragediansAeschylus – used two men as actors; one talking to the otherSophocles – used three actors; each played several partsEuripedes – used even more actors; angered the Greeks because he showed the Greeks and gods in a sometimes negative light as they really were; portrayed strong female character; killed by wild dogs
8 The Legend of Thespis The "inventor of tragedy" was born in Attica The first prize winner at the Great Dionysia in BC.He was an important innovator for the theatre, introduced: the independent actor masks make up costumes
9 More About ThespisThespis walked around Athens pulling a handcart, setting up a kind of one man play, where he showed the bad behavior of man.The word for actor " thespian" comes from his name.His contemporary Solon resented him, with the claim that what Thespis showed on stage would soon be acted out in reality as well.
10 Actors Men only -- one actor played several parts wore high-heeled boots to add staturemasks often fitted with megaphones
11 Parts of the Greek Stage theatron – the theatreskene – changing roomaltar – middle of stagechitons – brightly colored robesonkoi – wigskothurnoi – shoes on small stiltsmasks – had built in megaphones for amplification; masks for comedies were always def
23 Greek Modesty No censorship of events. However, Greeks very polite on stage.all spectacular action (death, murder, adultery) happens off stage -- only described.
24 Functions of the Chorus represents the feelings or morals of the characters or audiencegives important background informationsummarizes eventscomments on action or gives advice to the characters
25 Structure of Greek Tragedy Prologue: a preface or an introductionParados: marks the entrance of the Chorus when they first enterStasimon: songs the Chorus sings in Greek tragedy between episodesEpisode: the main action of the play; in Greek drama it refers to that part of a tragedy presented between two stasimonsExodus: conclusion of the playExeunt: another word for “Exit”
26 Greek Drama Unities Time – real time Place – all in one place Action – continuous action in one placeno violence is seen on stage
27 Roman Empire: 4th and 5th Centuries B.C.E. Romans adopt Greek fascination with theatreWant more SPECTACLErenovate Greek theatres (destroyed in war)add a story to tiring houses (more costumes, props, and set construction)save slaves to perform live out death scenes.
28 Sets Greeks Romans mostly just one set actors with huge masks few propsRomansmore elaborate setsstill use masksmany propsaction on stage