GREEK THEATRE REVISION

Background:
Titles of plays:

496-406 BC
Antigone

Greatest Greek dramatist Oedipus the King

Wrote over 100 plays-7 Electra

survived
Oedipus at Colonus
Won 24 contests.

SOPHOCLES

Themes and Characteristics:

Þ Human Relationships
Þ Not concerned with religious
or philosophical issues.

Innovations: Þ Built skillful climaxes

Þ Well-developed episodes.
1. Introduced the third actor. Þ Great observer of people.
2. Developed greater dramatic Þ Reference to the gods-

complexity. Cosmic forces in plays.

3. Master of dramatic irony.

Sung by a chorus of 50
men-later 15 men- in
lyrical form, poetic Plots:
A hymn sung in unison content.
Were known to
Around the altar of Dionysus the audience:
formed part of
Dealt only with cultural and
Themes: the life and religious
heritage.
The deeds of heroes: good and evil.
death of
Dionysus. Later Audience wanted
Wars. to see how well
included tales of
they could act
Marriages and adulteries. demi-gods and out myths.
hero’s.
Destination of children

Conflict between man and god: good and

evil: child and parent
 GREEK THEATRE STRUCTURE:

1. Theatre of Dionysus:
Spectators first stood or sat on a hillside overlooking the
orchestra, the dancing place.
Later seats were added on hillside and against hillside.
2. A semi-circular auditorium- open air.
3. Stage house- At the back
a. Skene where actors could change roles.
b. Formed background for play.
c. Entrance for actors.
4. On the side of skene- paraskenia – Projecting side wings.
5. Entrances for the chorus between paraskenia and auditorium into
orchestra area-paradoi.
6. Low platform infront of skene allowed free access between stage and
orchestra area.
7. The roof of the skene could be used as acting area. Built first from
wood, later with stone.
8. Deaths occurred off stage
a. Bodies wheeled in afterwards on exaustra.
9. Gods made appearences from the roof of the stage house: skene with
crane- like device- machina.
10.Scene changes
a. 3 flats put together to form triangle.
b. Triangle mounted in a central pivot- periaktoi.

THE GREEK ACTOR

THESPIS-First known actor

Actors increased from 1-3, plus chorus

A principle actor was assigned to each playwright by lot

Only male actors. Females were not allowed to act.

Each actor played a number of roles: possible with the use

of masks.

Plays called for simple more realistic actions.

Large musical element present.

Actors characterized roles in simple- expressive manner.

Actors were highly skilled in acting, singing, dancing and

acrobatics-comic actors.
 Lightweight-linen, cork, wood.

Males could portray female roles.

Actors could play more than one role.

Range of age and characters played by

a single actor was great.

Mouths were open and built out to

enhance projection, like a megaphone.

Masks indicated age, sex, emotion of

characters.

Ankle length.

Embroidered, elaborate.

Allowed for freedom of movement and

speech.
• Agile, • Remained a static-
Actor was limited with facial
expressions-had to rely on voice.
acrobatic, god like creature,
versatile. speaking and singing
Colours of costumes would indicate
status: royal colours for kings,
• Less hampering in harmony with the
nobles. Earthy colours for working costume. music.
colours. • Soft slippers. • Subdued, dignified,
• Flesh coloured upright, formal,
tights. declamatory voice.
• Short tunic. • A high headdress.
• Heavily padded. • Mask with distorted
• Large red features.
leather • Thick soled boots.
phallus. • Padded clothing.
• Ver exaggerated • Costumes added
features on dignity to role and
masks. enhanced stage
presence.
• Colours indicated
class.
GREEK TRAGEDY

Tragedy-goatsong-derived from the word tragos.

In procession to the temple the chorus wore goat skins: a goat skin was given as a
prize to best tragedy.

The subject matter included: well known stories of gods and heroes, the Trojan wars
were acted out at temples.

The hero had to make a moral choice

Mainly myths.

Sad stories that told of war, death, suffering

The structure:

Chorus always present: play therefore kept to the same place and time; action of
play was completed within one day.

A series of episodes separated by choral odes and songs.

Choral odes performed by chorus of +- 15 men.

Very little external action: murders were done behind scenes.

A messenger would appear to tell the audience what happened.

Female roles were enacted by males.

Style- epic; tells a story.

Tragic playwrights emjoyed long speeches and debates.

Tragic topics were discussed-myths.

Main characters were above the normal human- godlike; known as protagonists.
GREEK COMEDY

Comedy developed from the antics of villagers when harvests had been safetly
gathered.

People ennoyed the antics of the satyres- half men, half goats; attendants of
Dionysus.

Fooling and rough horseplay developed into true comedies.

Comedy- Komoidia- Means; merrymaking.

Consists of: Old comedy- two parts: Agon debate

Kosmos ending- which would be merrymaking

New Comedy.

Aritophanes- comic dramatist:

Related to politics and social customs of the time.

Titles: Birds, Frogs, Wasps.

Themes of his plays: Social satire, personal criticism, obscenity.

Wrote 40 plays- 11 survived.

Wrote old comedy.

Chorus portrayed satire.