Download Ancient Greek Theatre Medieval Theatre Italian Renaissance

A brief overview of theatre….
  Ancient
Greek Theatre
  Medieval Theatre
  Italian Renaissance Theatre
  Elizabethan Theatre
  Kabuki Theatre
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Life in Greece
  Stone or clay houses
  Food: Healthy. Bread, beans, fresh
fruit, vegetables, fish.
  Clothing: Light loose garments,
tunics, loincloth, barefoot/sandals,
jewelry.
  Activities: Festivals - races,
wrestling, boxing, javelin, etc.
Olympic Games!
Theatre in Greece
Theatre ORIGINATED in ancient Greece.
  Religious ceremonies to the god Dionysus
eventually were written down and became
plays.
  Plays had loud music, bright colors,
extensive dancing.
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Theatre in Greece (cont.)
A chorus narrated the play.
  Only males could be actors!
  Wore masks & costumes.
  The structure was an outdoor theatre.
  Famous Greek playwrights include
Sophocles.
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Life in the Middle Ages
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Houses: Timber frame with woven twigs, clay and
straw.
Food: Geese, chicken, beef, lamb, etc. available to
the rich. The poor were reliant on bread, peas and
beans.
Clothing: Barbarians wore fur, wool, leather. Knights
wore coat of arms. Tunics, cloaks.
Activities: Fairs, knight tournaments like jousts,
acrobatics, chess, checkers, taverns.
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Medieval Drama
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Largely tied into the Catholic church. A lot of plays
based on Biblical history and legends of the saints.
Plays commonly staged in pageant wagons – stages
on wheels.
Most famous play from Medieval times is “Everyman”.
Life in the Italian Renaissance
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Houses: Architecture gained importance. Columns, arches and
domes were frequently used.
Food: Bread, hard biscuits, wine, rice, pasta, lasagna, ravioli,
pizza.
Clothing: Women – underdress, tight bodice, high waisted
skirts. Veils, ribbons, floral garlands. Men – shirts with flowing
sleeves, doublets.
Activities: arts, literature, politics, philosophy emphasized.
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Commedia dell’arte
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Comic improv performed by professional troupes.
Created plot outlines, not scripts.
Specific character types that were identified by
their costumes and masks.
Example: Pantalone was a middle-aged or elderly
man – the father or husband. Arlecchino was the
schemer or prankster.
Life in the Elizabethan Renaissance
  Houses: mix of royal estates, great homes, country
homes and farmhouses, depending on social class.
  Food: Bread, cider, wine, pretzels, cheesecakes,
puddings
  Clothing: Women – ruffled dresses with tight
bodices, pendants. Men – jerkins (vests), loose fit
knickers, silk stockings, hats.
  Activities: instrumental music, dancing, plays,
dice, cards, golf, horse racing, tennis, archery …
and yes – public hangings!
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Elizabethan Drama
  William Shakespeare! Known as the best dramatist
of all time.
  Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson were also
popular playwrights.
  Plays were intended to be seen, not read. An
emotional experience designed to get a reaction
from the audience.
  Theatres: three stories for audience seating, acting
area was a platform, open area in the middle,
groundlings sat in the pit.
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