Ancient Greek Theatre

Greek theater began over 2,500 years ago. Ancient Greek Theatre has its origins in the earliest form of theatre, the DITHYRAMBO - a drunken, dance- chant, fertility ritual that honored DIONYSUS, the Greek god of wine and the harvest. Over the years this became a more formalised religious ceremony. Gradually stories of Dionysus were replaced by tales of other heroes and gods.

These stories were originally recited by a CHORUS, a group of 5O speakers, men and boys who recited the story in verse.The festivals grew in popularity and importance until, at its peak, the great theater festival in Athens lasted six days. Over 15,000 people attended the festival each year.

Drama itself really started when, according to legend, one day a man named Thespis stepped out of the chorus and spoke alone. The chorus then responded to his speeches. Thespis was the first actor. Today we call actors Thespians in his honor. Eventually the Chorus became smaller (12-15 speakers) and the actors increased (to 3) and Ancient Greek Theatre became the scripted performance we now know today. All of the actors were amateurs, not professionals. With such a large space to fill, ancient Greek actors could not be subtle in their acting. They had to gesture grandly so that the entire audience could see and hear the story.

Each actor in the Greek theater played more than one role. To portray different roles, the actor wore different masks. The masks of comedy and tragedy have become symbols of the theater.

Greek plays incorporated song, chant, and dance. Both the chorus and the characters spoke or chanted in verse set to musical accompaniment.

The size of the THEATRON also precluded the use of most props; actors used pantomime to indicate objects. The convention of plays having only two or three actors meant that an actor had to play more than one character. The actors wore masks to indicate their character, and enable them to play more than one character, as well as platform shoes and padded costumes to emphasise their proportions. This was necessary so spectators far from the stage could see what was happening.

A couple of quick insights into Greek Theatre

Introduction to Greek Theatre.mp4

Greek Theatre Space.mov

Ancient Greek Theatre can be divided into three categories: Comedies, Tragedies and Satyr plays (a type of bawdy satirical burlesque, full of rude jokes, making fun of Greek Myths, as well as contemporary figures). Each year various dramatists would each submit 4 plays (3 tragedies and 1 comedy) which would all be performed over a three day festival, at the end of which the best comedy and best tragedy awards would be presented. The winning playwright won a prize of money and an ivy wreath to wear as a symbol of victory. Winning the best tragedy was considered one of the greatest honours an Athenian citizen could receive.

Greek theater had many important playwrights. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides wrote tragedies (drama in which the main character suffers a disastrous end). Aristophanes and Menander wrote comedies (light, humorous dramas with a happy ending). A special type of play called the satyr play made fun of the Greek legends. We get our word satire from this. Some of the most famous Greek plays were Oedipus, Antigone, Electra, Medea, The Birds, and The Frogs.

The great Greek philosopher and teacher, Aristotle, wrote The Poetics. In this book he discussed the theater of his time. Aristotle discussed important topics of the theater including plot (what happens), theme (the idea or message), character, music, diction (speech), and spectacle (what was seen). Aristotle became the first literary critic.

The Greeks built their theaters on hillsides. They used the natural slope of the hill for seating the audience. A large circular area called the orchestra was located at the foot of the hill. It was here that the members of the chorus moved as they chanted their lines. Behind the orchestra was a raised platform on which the actors performed. A small building named the skene was built in the back of the acting platform. The skene was where the actors changed masks. The Greeks used the front wall of the skene to represent the location of the play. Our word scene comes from skene.

Violence and death always took place off stage and were reported to the audience by a messenger character.

The Greek theater also had special machinery including platforms on wheels and a device to lower an actor from the top of the skene house onto the stage. They used this device to show a god coming down to earth. The Greeks also used scenery to help give locations for the action of the play.

Most historians agree that the Greek era is one of the most important times in theater history.

The Chorus

Ancient Greek Theatre is famous for its use of the chorus, which was originally used in performances that celebrated the Greek god Dionysus. Traditionally, the chorus was used to provide information to the audience about events that could not take place on the stage. They also filled gaps in the story or drive the narrative forward. The chorus will communicate the moral message of the plays using either the whole ensemble or a single member of the chorus stepping out. The chorus, which consisted of 3-50 men, sang, moved and danced to engage audiences. When creating choral movement, a practitioner might consider:

Antigone The Ancient Greek Chorus.mp4

Modern Interpretations of Greek Chorus.mp4

- unison movement

- gestural movement

- locomoting movement

- slow/sustained moments

- exaggeration

- canon

- repetition.

Things to remember when using choral speaking include:

- unison moments

- repetition

- emphasis

- sound

- dialogue/language

- emotion

- pitch

- pace

- tone

- tempo/rhythm.

Chorus Examples

2015 Styles for the Actor Greek Chorus.MP4

2017 Styles for the Actor Greek Chorus.MP4

Oedipus Chorus 2.mp4

Chorus from Oedipus Rex Who is the Man.mp4

Oedipus All Male.mp4

Oedipus Chorus.mp4

Greek Theatre Conventions:

- Outdoor Amphitheaters - all of the action of the plays took place outside

- Only performed in the day

- All male actors

- All actors were masked

- The use of a chorus to both play a role and comment on the action

- No more than 3 actors (and the chorus) on the stage at any time

- Symbolic costumes to identify roles

- No violence took place on the stage

- Performance style was demonstrative, broad actions and gestures, full voice!

JOURNAL ENTRY 2:

What, in your opinion, make successful chorus work?
What have you seen today that reminds you of any aspect of this form of theatre? Consider the theatre shape, the use of a Chorus, the use of masks, the use of ritual.
How can the ideas used in Greek Theatre translate into your own work – what would you incorporate?

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