Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Going to the TheaterGoing to the Theater• Plays originated in Athens Plays originated in Athens

around 550 B.C, as songs and around 550 B.C, as songs and dances performed by men at dances performed by men at religious festivals in honor of religious festivals in honor of the god Dionysus (god of the god Dionysus (god of Wine and Harvest). Wine and Harvest).

Going to the TheaterGoing to the Theater• Theatre was a really big deal in ancient Greece.Theatre was a really big deal in ancient Greece.

• Crowds of 15,000 people would gather to Crowds of 15,000 people would gather to watch (all men)!watch (all men)!

• Even prisoners would Even prisoners would be released from jail be released from jail temporarily to attend.temporarily to attend.

• Every town had a least Every town had a least one theatre.one theatre.

The TalentThe Talent• Only 2 or 3 men would Only 2 or 3 men would

act in each play. Young act in each play. Young boys would play women.boys would play women.

• Actors would play several Actors would play several roles just by changing roles just by changing masks.masks.

• The masks had large holes The masks had large holes in the mouth and eyes.in the mouth and eyes.

The TalentThe Talent• Chorus – made up of 12 to 15 men who would Chorus – made up of 12 to 15 men who would

narrate and reflect on the action.narrate and reflect on the action.• They sang and sometimes acted as extras in the They sang and sometimes acted as extras in the

play.play.

The StructureThe Structure• The Greeks built huge outdoor theatres on hillsides in The Greeks built huge outdoor theatres on hillsides in

a semi-circular shape with rows of tiered stone seating a semi-circular shape with rows of tiered stone seating around it. around it. • excellent view excellent view • better for hearingbetter for hearing

The StructureThe Structure•The seating was call The seating was call theatrons (is the theatrons (is the origin of our word origin of our word theater).theater).

• The center of The center of the theater was the theater was a circular a circular dancing floor dancing floor (orchestra)(orchestra)

The StructureThe Structure•Parados – Parados – actors wait actors wait in these in these corridors corridors before before going on going on stagestage

• Skene – a Skene – a raised stage raised stage and and backdrop, backdrop, actors went actors went behind to behind to change change masksmasks

Types of Greek playsTypes of Greek plays

• Tragedies – character suffering a disastrous Tragedies – character suffering a disastrous endend

• Comedies – dramas with happy endingsComedies – dramas with happy endings

• Satire – plays that made fun of great Satire – plays that made fun of great legendslegends

Structure of a Greek PlayStructure of a Greek Play• 1) Prologue: Spoken by one or two

characters before the chorus appears. The prologue usually gives the mythological background necessary for understanding the events of the play.

• 2) Parodos: This is the song sung by the chorus as it first enters the orchestra and dances.

• 3) First Episode: This is the first of many "episodes", when the characters and chorus talk.

• 4) First Stasimon: At the end of each episode, the other characters usually leave the stage and the chorus dances and sings a stasimon, or choral ode. The ode usually reflects on the things said and done in the episodes

• For the rest of the play, there is alternation between episodes and stasima, until the final scene, called the...

• 5) Exodos: At the end of play, the chorus exits singing a processional song which usually offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play.

Structure of a Greek PlayStructure of a Greek Play

SophoclesSophocles

• Was a famous Greek playwrightWas a famous Greek playwright

• Sophocles wrote 120 plays Sophocles wrote 120 plays • Increased the size of the chorus Increased the size of the chorus • Used 3 actors instead of two Used 3 actors instead of two • Plays had better structure plays Plays had better structure plays • More believable characters in the playsMore believable characters in the plays• Plays were more realistic Plays were more realistic