GREEK THEATRE. Objective: To analyze the rudiments of theatre history through Greek Theatre.

Transcription

1 GREEK THEATRE Objective: To analyze the rudiments of theatre history through Greek Theatre. What do you know already about Greek Theatre? What do you think it s about?

2 WHAT DO YOU SEE?

3 VIDEO OF GREEK THEATRE Use the Video Website

4 KNOWLEDGE YOU KNOW What do you already know about the Greek Culture?

5 CULTURE Culture that flourished between B.C. Three dramatic genres to emerge Tragedy (late 6th century BC), comedy (486 BC), Satyr play three dramatic genres Western theatre originates in Athens

6 FIRST ACTOR Thespis First Recorded Playwright Winner of the First Theatrical festival in Athens Root of the Word Thespian Actors today are called thespians

7 THE SPACE Choruses of up to 50 people, in the orchestra Often daytime into nightfall Could hold up to 14,000 people Acoustics actors voices need to be heard Often times the seats were built into a natural hill Skene area where the backdrop or scenery was placed actors could change behind the skene Death happened behind the skene because it was inappropriate to display death. It could however, be heard Paradoi where actors could make entrances and exits

8 THE SPACE CONTINUED... machina, a crane that gave the impression of a flying actor (thus, deus ex machina). ekkyklema, a wheeled wagon used to bring dead characters into view for the audience trap doors, or similar openings in the ground to lift people onto the stage Pinakes, pictures hung into the scene to show a scene's scenery Thyromata, more complex pictures built into the second-level scene (3rd level from ground) Phallic props were used for satyr plays, symbolizing fertility in honor of Dionysus.

9 THE SPACE

10 GREECE

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15 THE ACTORS At first there were no actors, only poets By the end, actors were being chosen by the state because the success of the play depended on the success of the actors.

16 THE CHORUS Up to the point when Sophocles imported his innovations in drama, the chorus had 12 members. Sophocles added three more. The 15 members of the chorus were entering the orchestra in rows ( usually face=3, depth=5 ), which means that although in old dithyramb the chorus was making a circle, in ancient theater the chorus was making squares. The leader of the chorus ("Coryphaios") was in the middle of the first row. Coryphaios was a professional dancer and singer. The rest of the chorus consisted of amatures chosen by the poet and payed by the sponsor (choregos) The chorus was entering from the two "parodoi". His appearance was depending on the play. For the tragedy the chorus was very solemn and it was called "emmelia". In comedies it was funny and it was called "codrax", when in satiric drama it was scoptic and it was called "sicinnis". The chorus, was considered to be the mouthpiece of society (in its humble form) and morality, and they were suffering along with the heroes. Its role (very important at first) was fading during the time.

17 MASKS Masks were often used To over-exaggerate the facial expressions because some audience members were so far away Distinguish sex, age, social status Reveals a change in character

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19 OTHER COSTUMES Tragic Characters wore boots to lift them up called :: Cothumuses Comedic Characters often just wore soft sole shoes :: Sock prosterneda Imitate Breasts progastreda - Imitate Belly

20 STRUCTURE OF THE PLAY 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. Parodos: This is the song sung by the chorus as it first enters the orchestra and dances. First Episode: This is the first of many "episodes", when the characters and chorus talk.

21 STRUCTURE OF THE PLAY CONTINUED First Stasimon: At the end of each episode, the the chorus dances and sings a stasimon. Re-cap of what happens and foreshadows what s to come. First Stasimon and Episodes Alternate until the final scene... 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.

22 THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS Greek Machines

23 FAIRY TALES IN GREEK THEATRE Use the knowledge you have gained about the Greek Theatre and stage a fairy tale.