Download Greek Theatre Powerpoint

2,500 years ago
Athens, Greece
Between 600 and 200 B.C.
Greek plays still considered among
the greatest works of drama today.
More Greeks attended theatre, per
capita, than any other civilization.
•HERCULES
•THE PALACE OF ZEUS
•ATLAS
•NIKE
Most Greek plays were based in the Greek
religion, with themes about man trying to
wrestle with the fates the gods had dealt
him.
Myths are stories created to explain the
confusing occurrences of nature.
MYTHOLOGY AND THE GREEK GODS
ZEUS
ARES
APHRODITE
HADES
ATHENA
NIKE
AND OUR FAVORITE………………………….
GREEK GOD OF WINE AND HARVESTS
THE “PARTY GOD”
FESTIVAL CREATED AROUND 508 B.C.
5 DAYS (3 TRAGEDIES & 1 SATYR)
THE DITHYRAMB
MEANS “CHORIC HYMN”
STARTED PURELY AS A RELIGIOUS
CEREMONY
50 MEN DRESSED AS SATYRS DANCING
AND SINGING AROUND A GIANT STATUE
OF DIONYSUS
LATER TURNED INTO STORIES ABOUT
ANYTHING…..
DRAMA!!!!
The Theatre of Dionysus
•Orchestra: Literally the “dancing Place”
•Theatron: Literally the “seeing place”
•Skene: “Scene” or backdrop
•Paradoi/Eisodoi: Ramps
•Proskenion: In front of the scene
•Paraskenia: Beside the scene
•Terraced seating
•First wooden; later stone
•The “Dancing Place”
•“Scene”
•Behind orchestra
•Served as a backdrop, house
•Later became decorative
Plays are still performed in the Theatre at
Epidaurus, built in 350 B.C
AESCHYLUS (524-456 BC)
TRAGEDY
ARISTOPHANES (448-380 BC) COMEDY
ARISTOTLE (384-322 BC)
TRAGEDY
EURIPEDES (480-406 BC)
TRAGEDY
MEANDER (342-292 BC)
COMEDY
SOPHOCLES (496-406 BC)
TRAGEDY
The sun provided the lighting.
Torches were used, but as props.
Costumes were large and flowing to allow for
free, athletic movement.
Costumes had to make a strong visual
impression on the audience.
Masks! Large strong faces.
Masks had mouth holes. Some had
megaphones in them.
ONE SIMPLE FORMAT
1.
2.
3.
4.
PROLOGUE described the situation and
set the scene.
PARADOS an ode sung by the chorus as
it made its entrance.
KOMOS an exchange of laments by the
chorus and the protagonist.
EXODUS the climax and conclusion.
STILL THE FORMAT FOR
MUCH COMEDY TODAY
OLD COMEDY
NEW COMEDY
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MISTAKEN IDENTIES
IRONIC SITUATIONS
ORDINARY CHARACTERS
WIT
Greek Comedy is NOT very popular today because
the lyrics and jokes just don’t transfer very well into
other languages.
AULOS- A flute like instrument used to
accompany drama.
EMMELEIA- the dances of tragedy
KORDAX- most common term for comic
dances.
SATYR PLAY- Short comedic plays,
presented at the end of a tragedy;
forerunner of today’s cartoons.
•Could seat as many as 30,000 spectators
A group of men acting on stage
They usually spoke in unison
They represented a group of Greek
citizens, and provided background
chants, similar to opera.
They provided six important functions
1.
2.
3.
A character in the play; it gives advise,
expresses opinions, asks questions, and
sometimes takes part in the action.
It would establish the social framework so
the audience could set up an opinion.
It served as an ideal spectator that reacted
to what was happening the way that the
playwright wanted the audience to react.
4.
5.
6.
The chorus set the overall mood of the play
to heighten dramatic effects.
It added movement, spectacle, song, and
dance.
Served as an important rhythmical function.
It created pauses and slowed things down
so the audience could think about what
happened or what was to come.
Considered first actor.
Stepped out of the chorus and spoke alone.
Modern term “THESPIAN” comes from him.
All actors wore masks.
Greeks placed emphasis on the voice.
An actor was “great” if they had beautiful
vocal tone, and the ability to adapt the way
they spoke to the mood of the character.
Voices did not even have to sound the right
age or gender!
They did not allow women to act.
Men played all roles.