Greek Drama & Theater

Origins of DramaOrigins of Drama

Greek drama reflected the flaws and values of Greek society. In turn, members of society internalized both the positive and negative messages, and incorporated them into their daily lives. This concept of exposing society’s flaws and allowing the audience to learn from them is evident in contemporary theater.

Origins of DramaOrigins of Drama

The earliest origins of drama are The earliest origins of drama are ancient hymns, called ancient hymns, called dithyrambsdithyrambs. These were sung . These were sung in honor of the god Dionysus. in honor of the god Dionysus. These hymns were later adapted These hymns were later adapted for choral processions in which for choral processions in which participants would dress up in participants would dress up in costumes and masks.costumes and masks.

Why Dionysus?Why Dionysus?In Greek mythology, In Greek mythology,

Dionysus was the Dionysus was the son of Zeus & son of Zeus & Semele. He is the Semele. He is the only god born of only god born of one god and one one god and one mortal parent.mortal parent.

One of the 12 One of the 12 OlympiansOlympians

He was the god of He was the god of wine, fertility and wine, fertility and revelry.revelry.

DionysusDionysus

Responsible for human impulsesResponsible for human impulsesDivine mission: eradicate all care and Divine mission: eradicate all care and

worryworryDescribed as feminine; “man-Described as feminine; “man-

womanish”womanish” It was believed that Dionysus could It was believed that Dionysus could

liberate and inspire man. It was also liberate and inspire man. It was also believed that he could endow man with believed that he could endow man with divine creativity. Dionysus, thus, came divine creativity. Dionysus, thus, came to be considered a patron of the arts.to be considered a patron of the arts.

Honored him through theater festivalsHonored him through theater festivals

Word OriginWord Origin

The modern The modern word “theater” word “theater” comes from the comes from the Greek word Greek word theatrontheatron meaning "seeing meaning "seeing place." place."

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

First resemblance of a Greek theater was First resemblance of a Greek theater was in the Palace at Knossos in northern Cretein the Palace at Knossos in northern Crete

First formal Greek theater built in Athens First formal Greek theater built in Athens between 550 and 534 BCbetween 550 and 534 BC

Front rows reserved for distinguished Front rows reserved for distinguished visitorsvisitors

Open-air theaterOpen-air theater Simple surrounding allowed audience to Simple surrounding allowed audience to

devote full attention to charactersdevote full attention to characters

Theatre Theatre of of

DionysusDionysus

Built in the shadow of the Acropolis in Built in the shadow of the Acropolis in Athens at the beginning of the 5th centuryAthens at the beginning of the 5th century

These theatres proved to be so popular These theatres proved to be so popular they soon spread all over Greece.they soon spread all over Greece.

Parts of the TheaterParts of the Theater

OrchestraOrchestra: (literally, "dancing space") A : (literally, "dancing space") A circular and level space where the chorus circular and level space where the chorus would dance, sing, and interact with the would dance, sing, and interact with the actors who were on the stage near the actors who were on the stage near the skene. skene.

TheatronTheatron: (literally, "viewing-place") This : (literally, "viewing-place") This is where the spectators sat. The theatron is where the spectators sat. The theatron was usually part of hillside overlooking the was usually part of hillside overlooking the orchestra.orchestra.

Parts of the TheaterParts of the Theater SkeneSkene: (literally, "tent") The skene was : (literally, "tent") The skene was

directly in back of the stage, and was usually directly in back of the stage, and was usually decorated as a palace, temple, or other decorated as a palace, temple, or other building, depending on the needs of the play. building, depending on the needs of the play. It had at least one set of doors, and actors It had at least one set of doors, and actors could make entrances and exits through could make entrances and exits through them. them.

ParodosParodos: (literally, "passageways") The : (literally, "passageways") The paths by which the chorus and some actors paths by which the chorus and some actors made their entrances and exits. The audience made their entrances and exits. The audience also used them to enter and exit the theater also used them to enter and exit the theater before and after the performance.before and after the performance.

AmphitheatersAmphitheaters The side of a mountain was scooped out The side of a mountain was scooped out

into a bowl shape, and tiers of stone seats into a bowl shape, and tiers of stone seats were built into the hillside.were built into the hillside.

Often seated as many as 20,000 peopleOften seated as many as 20,000 people

In the sixth century BC, the Athenian In the sixth century BC, the Athenian ruler Pisistratus established the ruler Pisistratus established the “City “City Dionysia,”Dionysia,” a festival of entertainment a festival of entertainment held in honor of the god Dionysus.held in honor of the god Dionysus.

This festival, held in March, featured This festival, held in March, featured competitions in music, singing, dance competitions in music, singing, dance and poetry. and poetry.

Statue of Dionysus was carried into Statue of Dionysus was carried into theater so he could observe the theater so he could observe the performance.performance.

Performance was preceded by a Performance was preceded by a sacrifice to Dionysus.sacrifice to Dionysus.

““City Dionysia” City Dionysia” (di- u- niz- ea)(di- u- niz- ea)

Community Involvement in Community Involvement in FestivalFestival

The entire city would be in The entire city would be in attendance. attendance.

All other businesses not directly All other businesses not directly involved with the 6-day festival involved with the 6-day festival would shut down so that everyone would shut down so that everyone could attend. could attend.

The government even offered The government even offered financial assistance to those who financial assistance to those who could not afford to attend.could not afford to attend.

ThespisThespis

ThespianThespian: :

Of or relating to drama; Of or relating to drama; dramatic: dramatic: thespian thespian talentstalents

The most remarkable winning actor/playwright was said to be a wandering bard named Thespis.Does the name Thespis remind you of anything? Can you guess which modern word goes back to this early actor’s name?

Essentials of Greek DramaEssentials of Greek Drama

1. The play1. The play

2. The actors2. The actors

3. The chorus3. The chorus

The Play: The TragedyThe Play: The Tragedy

TragodiaTragodia in Greek in GreekDerived from the words Derived from the words TragosTragos, ,

meaning goat, and meaning goat, and oideoide, meaning , meaning song. Reason for this obscure origin song. Reason for this obscure origin has two possibilities:has two possibilities:

1.1.Choruses were dressed in loin-skins Choruses were dressed in loin-skins of goatsof goats

2.2.Prize for best song was a goat Prize for best song was a goat

The Play: The The Play: The TragedyTragedy

Centered around the rise and downfall of Centered around the rise and downfall of the “hero”the “hero”

The conclusion of a tragedy was usually a The conclusion of a tragedy was usually a messenger coming out to tell the audience messenger coming out to tell the audience of the tragic consequences of the of the tragic consequences of the characters’ actionscharacters’ actions

Stories based on myth or history, but Stories based on myth or history, but varied interpretations of events varied interpretations of events

Focus was on psychological and ethical Focus was on psychological and ethical attributes of characters, rather than attributes of characters, rather than physical and sociological.physical and sociological.

The Structure of Greek The Structure of Greek TragedyTragedy

ProloguePrologue, which described the situation , which described the situation and set the scene and set the scene

ParadosParados, an ode sung by the chorus as it , an ode sung by the chorus as it made its entrance made its entrance

Five dramatic scenesFive dramatic scenes, each followed by , each followed by a a KomosKomos, an exchange of laments by the , an exchange of laments by the chorus and the protagonist chorus and the protagonist

ExodusExodus, the climax and conclusion , the climax and conclusion

**Tragedies were often presented in **Tragedies were often presented in trilogies. Interspersed between the three trilogies. Interspersed between the three plays in the trilogy were plays in the trilogy were satyr playssatyr plays..

TRAGIC ACTIONTRAGIC ACTIONARETE, ARISTEIA: excellence

HUBRIS: arrogance

HAMARTIA: fatal mistake

PERIPETEIA: reversal of fortune

ANAGNORISIS: understanding

KATHARSIS

Satyr Satyr (say-ter)(say-ter) Plays Plays

These were short plays These were short plays performed between the performed between the acts of tragedies. They acts of tragedies. They made fun of the plight made fun of the plight of the tragedy's of the tragedy's characters. characters.

The satyrs were The satyrs were mythical half-human, mythical half-human, half-goat servants of half-goat servants of Dionysus. Dionysus.

Word OriginWord Origin

Does the term Satyr Does the term Satyr remind you of any remind you of any modern-day term?modern-day term?

The Satyr and the Satyr The Satyr and the Satyr plays spawned the word plays spawned the word satiresatire..

The Play: The ComedyThe Play: The Comedy

Not admitted to Dionysus festival till Not admitted to Dionysus festival till 487-486 B.C. – late487-486 B.C. – late

The first comedies were mainly The first comedies were mainly satirical and mocked men in power satirical and mocked men in power for their vanity and foolishness. for their vanity and foolishness.

Slapstick and crude humorSlapstick and crude humorComedies usually concluded with a Comedies usually concluded with a

“happy ending” and the characters “happy ending” and the characters find a resolution to the original find a resolution to the original conflictconflict

The ActorsThe Actors Actors were chosen Actors were chosen

from a pool of from a pool of professionals.professionals.

Speaking parts were Speaking parts were allotted to three men.allotted to three men.

Women were not Women were not allowed to participate. allowed to participate.

Gestures and body Gestures and body movements were movements were controlled and stately controlled and stately

The Actors- CostumingThe Actors- Costuming

Wore long, trailing robes with Wore long, trailing robes with elaborate designselaborate designs

At the bottom of each of the actors’ At the bottom of each of the actors’ shoes was a 6-inch wooden sole to shoes was a 6-inch wooden sole to make him appear taller and more make him appear taller and more intimidating.intimidating.

The Actors- MasksThe Actors- Masks Made out of linen, cork, or woodMade out of linen, cork, or wood Allowed the actors to portray multiple Allowed the actors to portray multiple

characterscharacters Portrayed different emotionsPortrayed different emotions Amplified voicesAmplified voices

The ChorusThe Chorus The word “chorus” literally means “dance”The word “chorus” literally means “dance” Most Greek choruses blended music, dance and Most Greek choruses blended music, dance and

songsong The chorus began in numbers as large as 50 but The chorus began in numbers as large as 50 but

dwindled to 12-15.dwindled to 12-15. The traditional Greek chorus moved and spoke in The traditional Greek chorus moved and spoke in

unison.unison.

Functions of the Chorus:Functions of the Chorus:1)1) To establish the ethical framework– the To establish the ethical framework– the

standard by which action will be judged standard by which action will be judged 2)2) To set mood and heighten dramatic effectTo set mood and heighten dramatic effect3)3) To add movement, spectacle, song, and To add movement, spectacle, song, and

dance dance 4)4) To provide rhythm-- pauses / paces the To provide rhythm-- pauses / paces the

action so that the audience can reflect.action so that the audience can reflect.5)5) To provide time for scene changes and To provide time for scene changes and

introduce background or summary introduce background or summary information. information.

6)6) To represent the “ideal” spectator-- they To represent the “ideal” spectator-- they take part in play, ask questions, react as take part in play, ask questions, react as playwright intends audience to reactplaywright intends audience to react

GreekGreek BothBoth Modern Modern •Maximum of 3 male Maximum of 3 male actors, in addition to actors, in addition to choruschorus

•Have a moral that Have a moral that actors/director/actors/director/playwright is trying playwright is trying to convey to audienceto convey to audience

•As many characters As many characters and of any gender as and of any gender as playwright deems playwright deems necessarynecessary

•Plays divided into Plays divided into prologue, parados, prologue, parados, episodes, stasimons episodes, stasimons and exodus and exodus

•Integrate music, Integrate music, dance and storydance and story

•Plays divided into Plays divided into scenes and actsscenes and acts

•Few and very simple Few and very simple special effects and special effects and propsprops

•The Tragedy and The The Tragedy and The Comedy, including Comedy, including slapstick and satyrslapstick and satyr

•Many complex Many complex special effects and special effects and propsprops

•Some religious Some religious significancesignificance

•Reaction of audience Reaction of audience is very important to is very important to life of a playlife of a play

•Purely entertainmentPurely entertainment

•Playwright was Playwright was responsible to write, responsible to write, direct, choreograph, direct, choreograph, design and design and sometimes act in a sometimes act in a play play

•Similar set-up of Similar set-up of theatertheater

•Specific jobs are Specific jobs are given to specialists. given to specialists. i.e. playwright writes i.e. playwright writes script, director script, director directs actors, etc. directs actors, etc.