Ancient Greek Theater

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek TheaterTheater

The background and original The background and original purpose of our modern daypurpose of our modern day

popular entertainment.popular entertainment.

The “seeing place”The “seeing place”The Greek word ‘The Greek word ‘theatron’ (lit. “seeing theatron’ (lit. “seeing

place”)place”)

serves as theserves as the basis of our word “theater”. basis of our word “theater”.The GreekThe Greek theatertheater reveals three major reveals three major

partsparts

1. ‘orkestra’ 1. ‘orkestra’ (our (our orchestraorchestra)—literally, “the )—literally, “the dancing place”dancing place”

2. ‘2. ‘skene’ skene’ (our (our scenescene)—literally “backdrop”)—literally “backdrop”

3. ‘3. ‘theatron’theatron’—semi-circular amphitheater —semi-circular amphitheater seatingseating

Basic DesignBasic Design

The ‘The ‘parodos’parodos’ allowed for the entrance and allowed for the entrance and exit of exit of certain groups of play certain groups of play performers.performers.

The challenges of presenting The challenges of presenting outdoor ancient theateroutdoor ancient theater

No artificial lightingNo artificial lightingNo electronic amplificationNo electronic amplificationConsiderable distance from the Considerable distance from the

performers--visibilityperformers--visibilityStone seatsStone seatsMaintaining audience interest—Maintaining audience interest—

plays were performed all dayplays were performed all day

Ancient Greek TheaterAncient Greek Theater

Greek response to the Greek response to the limitations of their mediumlimitations of their medium

All performances were held in daylightAll performances were held in daylight Performers wore masks which served to Performers wore masks which served to

amplify a amplify a stentorianstentorian voice. voice. Masks often were larger than life—Masks often were larger than life—

characters were more easily recognized characters were more easily recognized from afar.from afar.

Characters moved in an identifiable, Characters moved in an identifiable, stylized manner.stylized manner.

Plays were written and performed for Plays were written and performed for competition—who will win?competition—who will win?

MasksMasksEarliest masks depicted Greek gods Earliest masks depicted Greek gods

and goddesses.and goddesses.Actors usually constructed their own Actors usually constructed their own

masks.masks.Materials in mask construction Materials in mask construction

included leather, wood, animal hair, included leather, wood, animal hair, paint, flowers, plants, sometimes paint, flowers, plants, sometimes jewelry and other ornamentation.jewelry and other ornamentation.

Greek Theater MaskGreek Theater Mask

Further details of the Greek Further details of the Greek theatertheater

The ‘The ‘skeneskene’ served many functions, from a ’ served many functions, from a palace or house to, in later years, a palace or house to, in later years, a support for various backdrops.support for various backdrops.

The backdrops, or ‘The backdrops, or ‘pinakespinakes’, allowed ’, allowed changes in place to occur.changes in place to occur.

Later, ‘Later, ‘periaktoisperiaktois’, or prism shaped ’, or prism shaped devices, were revolved to reveal changes devices, were revolved to reveal changes in location. in location.

The ‘The ‘skeneskene’ later concealed the ‘’ later concealed the ‘mechanemechane’, ’, the machine, or crane, (sometimes called the machine, or crane, (sometimes called deus exdeus ex machina) machina) that raised and lowered that raised and lowered characters for dramatic effect.characters for dramatic effect.

Periaktoi and Deus Ex Periaktoi and Deus Ex MachinaMachina

Additional DetailsAdditional Details

““Props” or physical properties were used to Props” or physical properties were used to enhance the believability of place in the play.enhance the believability of place in the play.

Drums were used to suggest thunder.Drums were used to suggest thunder. Action was an important element in the Action was an important element in the

plays.plays. An ‘An ‘ekkyklemeekkykleme’, or “thing that rolls”, was ’, or “thing that rolls”, was

used to bring in any “bodies” resulting from used to bring in any “bodies” resulting from off stage killing.off stage killing.

No deadly violence was ever depicted on No deadly violence was ever depicted on stage during a Greek play.stage during a Greek play.

Drawing of how the ekkykleme Drawing of how the ekkykleme may have been usedmay have been used

Historical DetailsHistorical Details

Ancient Greek theater flourished between Ancient Greek theater flourished between about 550 and 220 BCE. (How many years about 550 and 220 BCE. (How many years ago was that?) “Flourished” means all the ago was that?) “Flourished” means all the citizens expected to see plays at some citizens expected to see plays at some point during the year.point during the year.

Athens, a city-state, was the center of Athens, a city-state, was the center of Greek theater.Greek theater.

During the theater event, businesses shut During the theater event, businesses shut down, out of town visitors arrived, down, out of town visitors arrived, prisoners were temporarily released.prisoners were temporarily released.

Types of Plays PerformedTypes of Plays Performed

Three major categories of drama competed Three major categories of drama competed for for prizes during the play festival:prizes during the play festival:

Comedic playsComedic playsTragic playsTragic playsSatyr playsSatyr plays

A drama (from the Dorian Greek, A drama (from the Dorian Greek, drân,drân, “to “to do”) is a literary composition written to be do”) is a literary composition written to be

performed by actors.performed by actors.

ComedyComedy

Comedies (from the Dorian Greek, Comedies (from the Dorian Greek, komodoi, komodoi, “band of outcasts, wanderers”, “band of outcasts, wanderers”, andand komoedia, “komoedia, “song of thesong of the outcasts, outcasts, wandererswanderers”) ”) were short pieces performed were short pieces performed between the longer tragic plays.between the longer tragic plays.

The comedies originally crudely mocked The comedies originally crudely mocked just about any well known, unpopular just about any well known, unpopular political opponent or object of dislike.political opponent or object of dislike.

Comedies gradually evolved (450BCE-Comedies gradually evolved (450BCE-250BCE) from course mockery to more 250BCE) from course mockery to more sophisticated attempts to showcase sophisticated attempts to showcase society’s foibles.society’s foibles.

TragedyTragedy A poet/entertainer told A poet/entertainer told

stories to a crowd in one stories to a crowd in one of two ways, depending of two ways, depending on the poet’s comfort on the poet’s comfort zone: not so serious or zone: not so serious or serious.serious.

Each type of story frame Each type of story frame developed its own popular developed its own popular following. Both evolved. following. Both evolved. One became comedy; one One became comedy; one tragedy.tragedy.

The serious story followed The serious story followed a noble character’s life a noble character’s life from social acclaim to from social acclaim to ruin.ruin.

The fall was always due to The fall was always due to a flaw in character as well a flaw in character as well as human pride.as human pride.

Tragedy, continuedTragedy, continued The stories of noble The stories of noble

characters “falling from characters “falling from grace” formed the basis of grace” formed the basis of the plays presented at the plays presented at theater holidays held in theater holidays held in honor of a Greek demi-god honor of a Greek demi-god known as Dionysus.known as Dionysus.

Dionysus was symbolized by Dionysus was symbolized by the the grape clustergrape cluster..

This rich symbol suggests This rich symbol suggests connectedness (everything in connectedness (everything in life is connected, all thoughts life is connected, all thoughts are connected) and over are connected) and over indulgence (‘drunk on life’).indulgence (‘drunk on life’).

Dionysus is the life force: Dionysus is the life force: overwhelmingly out of control overwhelmingly out of control (just try to stop life from (just try to stop life from having its own way). having its own way).

Tragedy, continued (2)Tragedy, continued (2)

Theater holidays, as stated, were Theater holidays, as stated, were held in honor of Dionysus, the demi-held in honor of Dionysus, the demi-god representing life’s indulgence, god representing life’s indulgence, loss of control. loss of control.

Dance was a form of movement Dance was a form of movement considered representative of free considered representative of free style, free expression.style, free expression.

Dancing was an integral part of the Dancing was an integral part of the theater holidays. theater holidays.


The goat was the animal totem The goat was the animal totem (symbol) of Dionysus. Followers of (symbol) of Dionysus. Followers of Dionysus would dress in goat skins, Dionysus would dress in goat skins, dancing and singing (chanting) until dancing and singing (chanting) until all sense of self had been lost. They all sense of self had been lost. They literally became someone else.literally became someone else.

Do you see how the theater and the Do you see how the theater and the role of the actor plausibly emerge role of the actor plausibly emerge from such an ancient belief?from such an ancient belief?


The word “tragedy” derives from the Greek The word “tragedy” derives from the Greek tragedoi, ‘goat-song’.tragedoi, ‘goat-song’.

Earliest “performances” (essentially spiritual Earliest “performances” (essentially spiritual celebrations) centered around the costumed celebrations) centered around the costumed Dionysian dancers (‘Dionysian dancers (‘tragostragos’) leading a ’) leading a procession to a procession to a threshingthreshing place, a flat, place, a flat, circular space, suggested by some scholars to circular space, suggested by some scholars to be the primitive start to the Greek chorus be the primitive start to the Greek chorus dancing and chanting in the dancing and chanting in the orkestraorkestra..

““threshingthreshing” is an important function of ” is an important function of separating edible grain from the rest of the separating edible grain from the rest of the plantplant


The life force (Dionysus) is totally The life force (Dionysus) is totally creative.creative.

The celebration of the life force, through The celebration of the life force, through disguise, chant/song (poetry), and dance disguise, chant/song (poetry), and dance leads us to a probable connection to the leads us to a probable connection to the earliest origins of theater.earliest origins of theater.

From here on, things only get more From here on, things only get more structured.structured.

Complete abandon meets order and Complete abandon meets order and harmony (Dionysus + Apollo=Theater).harmony (Dionysus + Apollo=Theater).

Chief Performers in a Greek Chief Performers in a Greek PlayPlay

The chorus, a group which could reach The chorus, a group which could reach upwards of 50 men, wearing the same upwards of 50 men, wearing the same masks, originally sang/chanted a story as masks, originally sang/chanted a story as a group while dancing rhythmically a group while dancing rhythmically forward and back within the orchestra, forward and back within the orchestra, accompanied by flutes, lyres, drums, and accompanied by flutes, lyres, drums, and bells.bells.

In time, one Greek playwright, Aeschylus,In time, one Greek playwright, Aeschylus, separated one chorus member (named separated one chorus member (named

Thespis) out from the group and wrote a Thespis) out from the group and wrote a call and response between them. call and response between them.

See why actors are called ‘thespians’?See why actors are called ‘thespians’?

Chief Performers, continued Chief Performers, continued (2)(2)

Gradually, as the number of actors rose to Gradually, as the number of actors rose to three, the number in the chorus rounded out three, the number in the chorus rounded out to about twelve.to about twelve.

The chorus still spoke in unison, was The chorus still spoke in unison, was accompanied by some sort of musical accompanied by some sort of musical instrument, and represented only one instrument, and represented only one character at a time.character at a time.

The chorus offered advice, spoke its mind on The chorus offered advice, spoke its mind on moral issues, and fretted over solutions to moral issues, and fretted over solutions to problems confronting the major characters.problems confronting the major characters.

ActorsActors

Began as a single responder to the chorus. Began as a single responder to the chorus. The actor was called ‘hypocrites'’, or The actor was called ‘hypocrites'’, or

“answerer”.“answerer”. Only three actors (male) were ever used in Only three actors (male) were ever used in

any ancient Greek play.any ancient Greek play.Additional roles were possible (ages, Additional roles were possible (ages,

gender, emotional states) because ofgender, emotional states) because of masks (made by the actor of linen, cork, masks (made by the actor of linen, cork,

maché, or wood; were ornately decorated).maché, or wood; were ornately decorated).

Elements of Greek DramaElements of Greek Drama

Aristotle described the necessary Aristotle described the necessary elements of a successful Greek Tragedyelements of a successful Greek Tragedy

The elements are six fold:The elements are six fold:Plot of ActionPlot of ActionCharactersCharactersVerbal ExpressionVerbal ExpressionThoughtThoughtVisual AdornmentVisual AdornmentSong CompositionSong Composition

A little more on the elementsA little more on the elements

The writing had to be high class—no The writing had to be high class—no coarse languagecoarse language

The dialogue between the chorus and the The dialogue between the chorus and the actor was standard prose, but the chorus actor was standard prose, but the chorus itself “sang” and danced (remember?) to a itself “sang” and danced (remember?) to a poetic lyricpoetic lyric

The drama was tightly written with a The drama was tightly written with a specific length in mind. All the pieces of specific length in mind. All the pieces of the plot had to come together by the end the plot had to come together by the end of the play.of the play.

Plot is the most important…Plot is the most important…

One single themeOne single themeComplex activity between charactersComplex activity between charactersSome Some pathos (“emotion”, but (“emotion”, but

actually calamity)actually calamity)Reversal (Reversal (peripeteiaperipeteia) of plot ) of plot

direction direction Understanding (Understanding (anagnorisisanagnorisis) occurs) occurs

—usually quite painful—usually quite painful

In addition…In addition…

The main character is of high rank, The main character is of high rank, respected by societyrespected by society

The main character manifests a The main character manifests a psychological flaw which proves to psychological flaw which proves to be his downfallbe his downfall

The audience sees the fall coming The audience sees the fall coming before the character himself is before the character himself is aware—and by the time he is aware, aware—and by the time he is aware, it is too late. it is too late.

General Structure of a Greek General Structure of a Greek TragedyTragedy

ProloguePrologue Parode (entry chant of the chorus)Parode (entry chant of the chorus)

StropheStrophe—chorus chants/moves in one —chorus chants/moves in one directiondirection

AntistropheAntistrophe—chorus chants/moves in the —chorus chants/moves in the oppositeopposite directiondirection

EpodeEpode—chorus chants and stands still—chorus chants and stands still Episode—Episode—interaction of actor/s with chorus interaction of actor/s with chorus

(typically 3 to 5 in a play)(typically 3 to 5 in a play)Stasimon—Stasimon—choruschorus reacts to each previous reacts to each previous

episodeepisode Exodos—Exodos—exitexit song of the chorus after the lastsong of the chorus after the last

StasimonStasimon

Can you answer these Can you answer these questions?questions?

How was the ancient Greek theater How was the ancient Greek theater structurally divided?structurally divided?

Why did an actor need a stentorian Why did an actor need a stentorian voice despite wearing a mask?voice despite wearing a mask?

How does the How does the skene skene contribute to the contribute to the illusion of place during a performance?illusion of place during a performance?

Why might the Greeks have omitted Why might the Greeks have omitted the actual “murder” of a character the actual “murder” of a character on on stagestage??

More QuestionsMore Questions

Describe the evolution of a single Describe the evolution of a single stage actor.stage actor.

How is the chorus the actual genesis How is the chorus the actual genesis of performance theater?of performance theater?

How did the How did the stasimonstasimon allow for fuller allow for fuller development of a particular scene?development of a particular scene?

In what way did the dancing of the In what way did the dancing of the earliest chorus remain intact in later earliest chorus remain intact in later Greek plays?Greek plays?

Education

Ancient Greek Theater