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The Theatre:
A Trip Through Time
Primitive Theatre
 Theater first came from primitive

societies through dance.
The dances were thought to get rid
of evil spirits that caused disease
and helped the souls of the dead
reach the afterlife.
Primitive Theatre
 The performers wore
masks, which
represented the spirits.
They also wore costumes
made of animal skins,
rushes, and bark from
trees.
Greek and Roman Theater
 Dates from the

th
6
Century BC
and included plays that had
dealt with tragedy or
comedy.
Theatre first came from
choral songs that dealt with
death and their god Dionysus.
Greek and Roman Theater
 Women were not allowed to

perform. Early actors were slaves,
but later actors were citizens.
The scenery in the plays were
rocks and tombs. Thesbis was
given credit for introducing masks
to the theater.



Medieval Theater
In early medieval times the church
stopped theater performances, but
later assisted in its rebirth during
the Middle Ages.
The performances were
done by priests and monks.
Was the great period of mystery
plays about biblical history.
Renaissance Theater
 In the 16th century worldly

plays were performed in inns and
hotels, then moved to theaters.
“The Theatre," was built just
outside of London in 1576. Many
others soon followed, such as the
very famous Globe theater.