Ancient Greek theatre began because of festivals, created to honour the gods. To honour the god Dionysus (God of theatre and wine), the ancient Athenian civilians would perform plays and songs at the festivals. Ancient Greek theatre buildings were called theatrons. The theatres were large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills, they consisted of three main elements: the orchestra, the skene, and the audience.
Epidaurus Theatre-
Greek theatre was very religious and based around worshipping and speaking to the gods.
Masks-
The size of theatre was such that from the front row the actors appeared only about four inches high and from the back about one inch, therefore there was simply no point in facial expressions. So the actors decided to create masks. Masks were made of organic materials and not considered permanent objects. They covered the entire face and head, with holes for the eyes and a small hole for the mouth, the mask-makers were called Skeuopoios or “maker of the properties”. Silent masks were used to great effect, particularly on child actors, expressing powerlessness, bewilderment, vulnerability, etc. The classical masks were able to bring the characters’ face closer to the audience, especially since they had intensely over-exaggerated facial features and expressions and they also enabled an actor to appear and reappear in several different roles, their variations help the audience to distinguish sex, age, and social status.
There were typically two types of ancient Greek theatre masks, the tragedy mask and the comedy mask.
Masks-
The size of theatre was such that from the front row the actors appeared only about four inches high and from the back about one inch, therefore there was simply no point in facial expressions. So the actors decided to create masks. Masks were made of organic materials and not considered permanent objects. They covered the entire face and head, with holes for the eyes and a small hole for the mouth, the mask-makers were called Skeuopoios or “maker of the properties”. Silent masks were used to great effect, particularly on child actors, expressing powerlessness, bewilderment, vulnerability, etc. The classical masks were able to bring the characters’ face closer to the audience, especially since they had intensely over-exaggerated facial features and expressions and they also enabled an actor to appear and reappear in several different roles, their variations help the audience to distinguish sex, age, and social status.
There were typically two types of ancient Greek theatre masks, the tragedy mask and the comedy mask.
Costumes-
The costumes were long, padded flowing robes with bright colours and rich designs, partly to emphasize the heroic aspects of characters and action. Together the masks and costumes gave the actors a super human, larger than life appearance, suited to the heroic qualities of the Greek tales. Actors who played tragic roles wore boots called cothurneses that elevated them above other actors. When playing female roles, the male actors donned a ‘ prosterneda’ which is a wooden structure infront of the chest to imitate breasts. Other than that there wasn't much evidence about ancient Greek theatre costumes, because the materials they were made out of were perishable.
The costumes were long, padded flowing robes with bright colours and rich designs, partly to emphasize the heroic aspects of characters and action. Together the masks and costumes gave the actors a super human, larger than life appearance, suited to the heroic qualities of the Greek tales. Actors who played tragic roles wore boots called cothurneses that elevated them above other actors. When playing female roles, the male actors donned a ‘ prosterneda’ which is a wooden structure infront of the chest to imitate breasts. Other than that there wasn't much evidence about ancient Greek theatre costumes, because the materials they were made out of were perishable.
The Chorus-
The chorus was usually 15 anonymous characters, standing in the Orchestra, their main purpose was to sing and dance the choral odes that divided the acts of tragedy. They also would chant or sing the dialogue of the actors in unison, however sometimes individual lines would be taken in turns. The leader of the chorus was named Koryphaios and would probably be slightly marked out from the others by a more distinguished mask or costume. The chorus was there to emphasize the tragedy plays and increase the effect of main actor’s lines.
The chorus was usually 15 anonymous characters, standing in the Orchestra, their main purpose was to sing and dance the choral odes that divided the acts of tragedy. They also would chant or sing the dialogue of the actors in unison, however sometimes individual lines would be taken in turns. The leader of the chorus was named Koryphaios and would probably be slightly marked out from the others by a more distinguished mask or costume. The chorus was there to emphasize the tragedy plays and increase the effect of main actor’s lines.
Lighting And Props-
Artificial lighting was both impossible and unnecessary, however they often used torches for spectacular events.Various stage properties could be used such as alters, statues, a cave mouth, chariots, garlands, brooches and staffs which would carry the King’s sword.
The Three Greek Tragedians-
Were the most recognised play writers of Greek theatre, they were...
Aeschylus- Aeschylus was born in the city of Eleusis, near Athens, in 525 BC and died in 456 BC. He was most famous for his plays Prometheus bound, Seven against Thebes, The Persians, The Suppliants and Agamemnon. He was also renown for creating the second actor in his plays.
Sophocles- Sophocles was born about 496 BC in Colonus Hippius, he was probably the most famous tragedians, he wrote over 100 plays. His most famous plays were Oedipus the King, Antigone, Three Theban plays and Electra.
Euripides- Euripides was born in 480 BC and died in 406 BC. Euripides represented the new moral, social, and political movements that were taking place in Athens towards the end of the 5th century BC. He was famous for plays that weren’t about gods or royalty but real people and real life. His most famous plays were The Trojan Women, Helen, Hippolytus and Medea.
Artificial lighting was both impossible and unnecessary, however they often used torches for spectacular events.Various stage properties could be used such as alters, statues, a cave mouth, chariots, garlands, brooches and staffs which would carry the King’s sword.
The Three Greek Tragedians-
Were the most recognised play writers of Greek theatre, they were...
Aeschylus- Aeschylus was born in the city of Eleusis, near Athens, in 525 BC and died in 456 BC. He was most famous for his plays Prometheus bound, Seven against Thebes, The Persians, The Suppliants and Agamemnon. He was also renown for creating the second actor in his plays.
Sophocles- Sophocles was born about 496 BC in Colonus Hippius, he was probably the most famous tragedians, he wrote over 100 plays. His most famous plays were Oedipus the King, Antigone, Three Theban plays and Electra.
Euripides- Euripides was born in 480 BC and died in 406 BC. Euripides represented the new moral, social, and political movements that were taking place in Athens towards the end of the 5th century BC. He was famous for plays that weren’t about gods or royalty but real people and real life. His most famous plays were The Trojan Women, Helen, Hippolytus and Medea.
Non-naturalistic Conventions of Greek Theatre-
· Grand Gesture
· Stylised Movement
· Exaggerated voice
· Mask
· Set with minimal Pieces (Open stage)
· Chorus
· Heightened Language
· Costume
· Grand Gesture
· Stylised Movement
· Exaggerated voice
· Mask
· Set with minimal Pieces (Open stage)
· Chorus
· Heightened Language
· Costume