the specific era of theatre: ancient greek
DESCRIPTION
Describes about theatre during the Ancient Greek Era. -Introduction -Brief History -Famous Actors, Playwrights, Plays -Structure of the Theatre -MasksTRANSCRIPT
THE SPECIFIC ERA OF
THEATRE :ANCIENT
GREEK
Group Members :
Matanaeiswaran
Rathi Sri
Sangeetha Vani
Saral
WHAT IS THEATRE?
Theatre come from the word theatron which
means a place for viewing.
2 definitions in this context • a building, room or an open area used for
performing plays • a play which is considered as
entertainment or art
HISTORY
It was between 550 BC and 220 BC that theatre was
starting to blossom in Athens, the city of Ancient Greece
Plays were produced when a festival is celebrated which is
considered bigger than the Olympics these days
This was to celebrate one of the God called Dionysus, the God
of Wine and Fertility
He was the reason why theatre was developed
CONTINUATION
Name of the festival was ‘City Dionysia’ honoring the God
Himself
Throughout the drama’s, the other Gods or also known as
the Olympians were worshiped and honored too
Only presented on this festival because plays were famous
back then
Greeks followed the celebration celebrated by
Egyptians honoring Osiris, the god of afterlife
CONTINUATION
Most men were drunk during the festival
the men’s costume would be of goats skin
which symbolizes as the men to be sexually
potent which means the man is capable of
having sexual intercourse and to influence
passionate lust during the ceremony which is to
satisfy Dionysus
Only celebrated in
Athens, the main centre
of theatrical traditions.
Not much people
involved when a play is
produced. One person
becomes everything. The
dramatist, actor and the
director
CONTINUATION
CONTINUATION
Eventually it developed. A few mute characters
came in but still the Grecians never fancy huge
number of people to be on stage.
Important detail about the Ancient Greek
theatre was that, the plays / dramas were all
performed as a competition. The best play would
have the honor of winning
TYPES OF PLAY
TRAGEDY
Very popular during the Ancient Greek Era
Comes from the word ‘tragos’ which refers to the goats
which were sacrificed to Dionysus before the festival
Themes dealt with in this play are love, power abuse and
the relationship between Gods and mankind.
begins with a crime being committed by the main
character then the character just breaks down due to
his consequences
TRAGEDY
Thespis created the tragedy and he was the
earliest actor to have won the theatrical contest
Thespis was known as the Father of Tragedy
performed Dithyrambs, an ancient Greek
hymn by Aristotle who says was the origin
of the Athenian tragedy
TRAGEDY
Three well – known playwrights for tragedy
during the fifth century
AESCHYLUS
EURIPEDES
SOPHOCLES
COMEDY
it was all based on imitation
Mocking men and their power was the very
first comedy plays produced
Then it was improvised and it became more like
sit coms these days
Aristophanes – well
known playwright for
comedy
Competed in a major
Athenian festivals
Most debatable piece
was Lysistrata
COMEDY
SATYR
Is a tragicomedy
the play is actually based on myths with comedy in
it
played at the end of the festival or in between the
three tragedy plays during the festival
To break all the worries and tension
Was introduced by Pratinas of Philus and then modified by
his son Aristeas
FAMOUS PLAYS
By Sophocles• Oedipus Rex – Tragedy• Antigone – Tragedy• Ajax – Tragedy
By Aeschylus• The Persians – Tragedy• The Oresteia – Tragedy• Prometheus Bound – Tragedy
FAMOUS PLAYS
By Euripedes• Medea – Tragedy• Alcestis – Tragedy
By Aristophanes• The Frogs – Comedy• Lysistrata - Comedy
FAMOUS ACTORS
Araros • Son of Aristophanes• Well – known for comedy plays
Metrobius• Tragic play actor• Roman actor but was born as a Greek
Thespis• Very first man to act. Tragedy play actor• Singer of Dithyrambs
Aristophanes (ca 446 – ca
386 bc)
Well – known for
comedies
40 plays were written but
only 11 survived
Famous scripts :
Lysistrata and The Wasps
FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
Euripides (ca 480 – ca
406 BC)
Greek tragedian
Wrote 95 plays but only
18 are available
Famous works : Medea,
The Bacchus and Alcestis
FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
Sophocles (ca 496 – ca 406
BC)
Tragedian
Wrote 123 scripts but
unfortunately only 7 survived
His works are Antigone,
Oepidus, The King and
Electra
FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
THEATRE
Theatron
• covers the largest part of the theatre
• audience are seated. It is a semi – circle and it was a terrace
THEATRE STRUCTURE
Orchestra • play is performed• Called as the
‘dancing place’• not only the place
where performance is done but there is also an altar for Dionysus in the middle of the stage
Parados
• is located on both side of the theatre is the entrance whereby actors comes in and goes out
THEATRE STRUCTURE
Skene• back of the
orchestra• backstage of the
theatre. It is where the actors change their costumes or masks before entering the Orchestra
COSTUMES
Their costume symbolizes a few details.
• If we have a man wearing a purple coloured costume. That means he is a rich man.
• Soldiers on the other hand wore short cloaks.
• If a man is wearing a striped robe it means he is a boy.
• A poor man is displayed by wearing a red costume.
COSTUMES
• A woman is portrayed when the actor is wearing yellow colour.• Short tunics portrayed slaves.• A God is portrayed when the
actor wears a yellow tassel.
MASKS
huge for both Ancient Greek and Roman theatre
actor would be wearing a mask to portray their character
few masks can be seen from those days because they
were made from linen or cork which eventually will not
last long
The best part of the mask is that when one wears it, it
amplifies the voice of the actor in order for everyone in
the audience could hear it.
THE END