Oedipus and Antigone Ancient Greek Theatre Origins of Theatre Theatre began with religious festivals in honor of Dionysus During the spring they held a festival in Athens called City Dionysia ID: 426565
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "An introduction to" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
An introduction to
Oedipus and Antigone
Ancient Greek TheatreSlide2
Origins of Theatre
Theatre began with religious festivals in honor of Dionysus
During the spring, they held a festival in Athens called City DionysiaMen would perform songs to welcome and honor Dionysus (these were called dithyrambs)
Plays were only presented during this festival
Chorus: group of about fifty who sang and danced
Athenians spread these festivals to its allies in order to promote a common identity
There were three tSlide3
Origins of Tragedy
Thespis (6th century BC)
Known as the “father of drama”Won a prize for tragedy in 535 B.C.
Considered the first Greek actor and originator of tragedy
Was said to have introduced the first actor and thus, dialogue
Tragedy originally meant “Goat song,” possibly because goats were sacrificed to Dionysus prior to performancesSlide4
Aristotle’s Poetics is the first known theory about Greek tragedy.
Slide5
Aeschylus
525-426 B.C.
Most Famous Works:Oresteia
Contributions:
Slide6
Sophocles
496-406 B.C.
Famous Works:Oedipus Cycle (Oedipus Rex, Antigone, Oedipus and Colonus)
Contributions:
Added a third actor to the stage
Fixed the number of chorus to 15
Introduced painted sceneryCreated each play of a trilogy as separate in natureSlide7
Euripides
486-406 B.C.
Famous Works:Medea, Electra
Contributions:
Reduced the participation of the Chorus in the main action on stage
Relied on heavy prologues and deux ex machina endings
Deus ex machina: literally, “god from the machine;” where an actor playing a god was lowered onto the stage using a crane. The gods were used to solve “unsolvable” problems at the end of the play.Slide8
Origins of Comedy
There is no trace of the origin of comedy
Comedic plays were derived from imitationAristophanes wrote the majority of comedy plays
11 surviving plays by AristophanesSlide9
The Theatre Structure
Theatron: seeing place where audience sat
Orchestra: Circular dancing place where actors and Chorus performed.Thymele: altar to Dionysus in center of orchestra.
Skene: building used as a dressing room.
Proskenion: front of skene building which served as backdrop
Parados: entrance to theater used by Chorus.Slide10
Theatre (you should know this)Slide11
Actors
Hypocrites- the answerer-playing roles
Actor and dramatist originally the same-playwright took leading roleNever have more than three-changed characters (protagonist, deuteragonist, tritagonist)
All male performers; played female roles as well.Slide12
Costumes and Masks
Long flowing robes were colored symbolically
High boots, often with raised solesLarger than life masks, made of linen, wood, and/or cork
Identified age, gender, and emotion
Used exaggerated features, such as large eyes and an open mouthSlide13
Music and Dance
Choral odes often had musical accompaniment:
FluteLyre
PercussionSlide14
Role of the Chorus
To set the overall mood and express theme
Add beauty to the play through song and dance
Give background information
Divides the action and offers reflection and commentary on events
Questions, advises, and expresses opinion—usually through the chorus leaderSlide15
Conventions of Theatre
Unities
Action- simple plotTime- single day
Place- one scene throughout
Messenger
Tells news happening away from scene
Report acts of violence not allowed to be seenLimitations of TheaterContinuous presence of ChorusNo intermissions, continuous flow of action and choral odesNo lighting; no curtains