Greek Drama

Drama was born in ancient Greece!• 600s B.C. - Greeks were giving

choral performances of dancing and singing

• Performances at festivals honoring Dionysus

• Later they held drama contests to honor him

Thespis (534 B. C.)

• Defined theater– art of acting a part on stage– dramatic impersonation of another

character than yourself

• Uncertain whether he was a playwright, an actor, or a priest

• “Thespian” term comes from his name

Description of Greek Theater• Took place in large hillside

amphitheaters– held 20, 000 people!!

• Players included a chorus and their leader

• Lines were chanted• Chorus performed in an “orchestra”,

not on a raised platform

Greek Theater (continued)

• Masks used to represent characters

• High-soled boots worn to add height

• Both of these limited movement

Greek Theater

Most Important Era (400s B.C.)•Tragedies performed as part of

a civic celebration called the City Dionysia

•Festival lasted several days•Prizes given for best tragedy,

comedy, acting, and choral singing

Theater of Dionysus

•Located on slope below the Acropolis in Athens

•Seated 14,000•Circular acting area called

orchestra•Skene (stage house)

Greek Tragedy

• Nearly all surviving tragedies are based on myth

• Character’s struggle against hostile forces ended in defeat and ultimately in death

• A series of dramatic episodes separated by choral odes (mini-songs).

• Episodes performed by a few actors - never more than 3 on stage

Greek Drama (continued)

• Wore masks to indicate the nature of the characters played.

• Men played women’s roles• Same actor appeared in several

parts.• Of the hundreds of Greek tragedies

written, fewer than 35 survive.

Three Playwrights

• Aeschylus

– Most famous for Oresteia

– Introduced concept of second actor

– Expanded possibilities for plot

Sophocles

• Innovation of the third actor• Most famous for Oedipus Rex

Euripides

• Created the ultimate form of drama

• Far more naturalistic or human approach in his works

• Showed interest in psychology through portraits of women

Euripides (continued)

• Medea is most famous work– Describes how a mother kills her

children to gain revenge against their father

Roman Theater

• Borrowed extensively from Greeks• Latin word “ludus” – play• Chiefly important because it influenced

Renaissance playwrights• Works of only one author left – Lucius

Annaeus Seneca– 5 act form -- Elaborate language– Revenge as the main idea of the play– Confidant

Roman Comedy

• Typical plot – misunderstandings– Mistaken identity– Free-spending sons deceiving their

fathers

Gradual decline – actors excommunicated-- rising power of church

-- invasions by barbarian tribes

Medieval Drama

• Death of theater after fall of Roman Empire

• Kept alive only by street players, jugglers, acrobats, and animal trainers

Medieval Churches

• Although against theater during Roman Empire, churches are most responsible for bringing theater back

• Church needed to establish itself in the community– Began using drama to tell stories

about religious holidays

Liturgical Drama

• Rebirth of drama through brief plays acted by priests as part of the liturgy (worship service)

• The Resurrection of Christ was first event dramatized

Mystery Plays

• Written in verse and taught Christian doctrine– Presented Biblical characters as if

they lived in medieval times

Mystery Plays (continued)

• Setting for play on pageant wagon

• Wagon drawn through city to various places– Actors performed on platform outside wagon

Miracle Plays

• Based on lives of saints rather than scripture

• Became secular after short period of time

Morality Plays

• Relgious performed “speeches”• Taught meanings of Biblical

passages other than literal ones• Changed into plays called

interludes– Interludes were created strictly for

entertainment

Renaissance Drama (Italy)

• Strictly applied Aristotle’s rules• Spectacular musicals• Intermezzo – music and lively

entertainment between acts• 16th century - Opera emerges• 17th century – Commedia dell’arte

– Comedy and improv

Renaissance Drama

• Pastoral drama– Set in the country– Depicted romantic affairs of rustic

people, usually shepherds and shepherdesses

Renaissance Drama (England)• Not bound by rules• Elements of farce, morality,

disregard for time and place• Christopher Marlowe

– Development of blank verse

England Performances

• Began early afternoon; ended just before dusk

• Women never on stage; parts played by boys

• Attended by all classes of society• Refreshments sold during

performances• Audience in a “holiday” mood

William Shakespeare

• Father of modern drama• Creator of the Globe Theater

Shakespeare (Continued)

• Wrote tragedies, comedies, etc.• Unified plot• Strong characters and imagery• Perfection with verse form and

language– Captured the spirit of ordinary speech– Gave special dignity to

characters/situations

The Globe Theater

• One of four major theaters in England – the other three – Swan, Rose, Hope

• Open-air octagonal amphitheater• Seated 3,000• 3 stories high• Original burned down; was

reconstructed before Shakespeare’s death

Congratulations!!!

You have completed the lecture on the history of theater!!!