DramaA short history of theatre

Greek Theatre

Greece• Began as worship / festival for Dionysus • Is the foundation of all theatre today• Typically had 3 actors on stage at a time• Used masks to help project voice and

image• Mainly performed comedy and tragedy• Unity of time, place and action.

– Time means actual time on stage = real time. (no “later”)– Place means only one location used – Action means only action that promotes story used

• The Chorus helped to narrate the story

Greek Masks

Greek Terms• Orchestra: The circular, level space where the chorus would

sing, dance, and interact with the actors

• Theatron (Theatre): Where the spectators sat.

• Skene (Scene): The decorated "tent" behind the stage.

• Prologue: Spoken introduction before the chorus appears. Gives background.

• Thespian: Thespis is the first to break from the chorus and become an actor (world’s 1st actor). So a Thespian is an actor – a term still used today.

• Tragedy: Comes from Greek word "traegos" which means goat song. Greek tragedy involves a hero with a tragic flaw.

• Trilogy: Three tragedies centered around one theme• …And many, many more terms we still use today.

Other Additions

• Opera• Musicals• Lighting and stage production

improvements

From Stage to Film

• Early movies reflect many of the same ideas of theatre

• The “3 act play” is still reflected in many of the movies of today

• Many actors, directors or producers work in stage, film and television.

Review

• Know the basics of Greek theatre• Understand the Greek terms still used

today– Orchestra– Skene– Tragedy– Trilogy– Thespian– Theatre– Chorus