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Ancient Greek TheatreAncient Greek Theatre

Where/when it all began…Where/when it all began…

►The The Greek theatreGreek theatre ( (AEAE theater) or theater) or Greek dramaGreek drama is a is a theatricaltheatrical tradition tradition that flourished in that flourished in ancient Greeceancient Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 BC.between c. 550 and c. 220 BC.

►Early tradition holds that drama and Early tradition holds that drama and comedy evolved from the comedy evolved from the dithyrambdithyramb, , the songs, folk tales and dances the songs, folk tales and dances offered to offered to DionysusDionysus, the Greek god of , the Greek god of fertility and wine.fertility and wine.

Who were the players of Greek Who were the players of Greek theatre?theatre?

The plays had a chorus of up to 51people, who The plays had a chorus of up to 51people, who performed the plays in verse accompanied by performed the plays in verse accompanied by music. The performance space was a simple half-music. The performance space was a simple half-circular space, the circular space, the orchestraorchestra, where the chorus , where the chorus danced and sang. The orchestra, which had an danced and sang. The orchestra, which had an average diameter of 78 feet, was situated on a average diameter of 78 feet, was situated on a flattened terrace at the foot of a hill, the slope of flattened terrace at the foot of a hill, the slope of which produced a natural which produced a natural theatrontheatron, literally , literally "watching place". Later, the term "theatre" came "watching place". Later, the term "theatre" came to be applied to the whole area of theatron, to be applied to the whole area of theatron, orchestra, and skené. The orchestra, and skené. The choragoschoragos was the head was the head chorus member who could enter the story as a chorus member who could enter the story as a character able to interact with the characters of a character able to interact with the characters of a play.play.

The physical structure of the The physical structure of the theatretheatre

The theatres were The theatres were originally built on a originally built on a very large scale to very large scale to accommodate the accommodate the large number of large number of people on stage, as people on stage, as well as the large well as the large number of people number of people in the audience, up in the audience, up to fourteen to fourteen thousand.thousand.

Without microphones, how did they hear???????

Mathematics played a large role in the construction of these theatres, as their designers had to able to create acoustics in them such that the actors' voices could be heard throughout the theatre, including the very top row of seats.

In, Out, and Behind the In, Out, and Behind the scenesscenes

In In 465 BC465 BC, the playwrights began using a , the playwrights began using a backdrop or scenic wall, which hung or backdrop or scenic wall, which hung or stood behind the orchestra, which also stood behind the orchestra, which also served as an area where actors could served as an area where actors could change their costumes. It was known as the change their costumes. It was known as the skenéskené, or scene. , or scene.

Greek theatres also had entrances for the Greek theatres also had entrances for the actors and chorus members called actors and chorus members called parodoiparodoi. . The parodoi (plural of parodos) were tall The parodoi (plural of parodos) were tall arches that opened onto the orchestra, arches that opened onto the orchestra, through which the performers entered. through which the performers entered.

Props

There were several prop items commonly used in Greek theatre:

machina, a crane that gave the impression of a flying actor (thus, deus ex machina).

ekeclema, 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)

Behind the mask

The comedy and tragedy masks have their origin in the theatre of ancient Greece. The masks were used to show the emotions of the characters in a play, and also to allow actors to switch between roles and play characters of a different gender. The earliest plays were called Satyrs; they were parodies of myths.

Antigone by Sophocles

Antigone is the best-known daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta.

However, due to the incestuous nature of their relationship, Antigone is also Oedipus's half-sister and Jocasta's granddaughter.

Ancient greek burial rites

The ancient Greeks had distinct methods of burial, and it was often believed if you were not provided a proper burial along with the appropriate rituals, you were destined to suffer between worlds until your rites of passage into the underworld were completed.

Sophocles takes a few liberties…Sophocles takes a few liberties…

SophoclesSophocles covered the details of her life covered the details of her life and death in his and death in his AntigoneAntigone and his and his Oedipus at Oedipus at ColonusColonus. .

Sophocles departed from the original Sophocles departed from the original legend in the order of the events: legend in the order of the events: according to the original, the burial of according to the original, the burial of Polynices took place while Oedipus was Polynices took place while Oedipus was yet in Thebes, not after he had died at yet in Thebes, not after he had died at Colonus. Colonus.

Essence of the play Antigone is a tragedy written

before or in 441 BC by Sophocles. It is chronologically the third of the three Theban plays but was written first.

The important issue in the play is the clash of values between Creon and Antigone. Creon advocates obedience to man-made laws while Antigone stresses the higher laws of duty to the gods and one's family. Creon, the dramatic hero, only realizes his mistake after he loses the lives of all his family.

Characters to remember

Antigone -  The play's tragic heroine. In the first moments of the play, Antigone is opposed to her radiant sister Ismene.

Ismene – Quiet, subservient sister of Antigone; she is willing to bend to Creon’s will.

Characters, continuedCharacters, continued

Creon – Creon – king who opposes Antigone on her decision to king who opposes Antigone on her decision to bury her brotherbury her brotherHaemonHaemon -  Antigone's young fiancé and son to Creon.  -  Antigone's young fiancé and son to Creon. Haemon appears twice in the play. In the first, he is Haemon appears twice in the play. In the first, he is rejected by Antigone; in the second, he begs his father rejected by Antigone; in the second, he begs his father for Antigone's life. for Antigone's life.

Characters…

• The Chorus frames the play with a prologue and epilogue, introducing the action and characters under the sign of fatality.

• Polyneices and Eteocles do not appear directly in the play, but their actions prior to the play’s opening figure the play’s action.

Omega…