By 265 BCE, Athens had fallen out of power and the Roman Empire
was expanding. The Romans absorbed much of Greek culture, including
its theatre
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6 th Century BCE Ludi Romani festival Similar to the City
Dionysia festival but with variety entertainment - circus, boxing,
chariot racing, beast hunts, gladiatorial contests, etc. Dramatic
performances added in 364 BCE Latin adaptations of Greek Tragedy
and Comedy added in 240 BCE Audiences were lively, if not very
sophisticated
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For centuries, Romans used old theaters that the Greeks had
built their own theaters were built and torn down for each festival
In 55 BCE, the Romans built their first stone theater Built on flat
surfaces instead of into the hillsides Superior architecture
allowed massive theaters to be built
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Lower in status than Greek actors, often slaves Wore linen
masks and used stock costumes and props Because of increased role
of music, especially in comedies, actors had to be good
singers
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Stock characters Grumpy old man Young lovers Tricky servant
Braggart soldier Chorus was eliminated Ironic or satirical songs
opened most scenes
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Similar to Greek tragedy but much more violent Also eliminated
chorus
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By the first century, formal theatre had lost its popularity
Replaced by: Atellan Farce: Improvised comedies, built around stock
characters Mime: troupes of men, woman and children, unmasked,
performing short, satirical pieces of theatre. Focused on
contemporary subjects and scandals. A favorite subject was to
ridicule the new religious sect Christianity. Pantomime: Masked
narrative ballets based on mythology.
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Began around 190 CE ended 476 CE Vain, ineffective Emperors
Empire was so large that central leadership became impossible.
Attacked from Turks, ect.
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After the fall of Rome, no stable government besides Church
Church closed down all Roman theaters in 6 th Century theatre was
associated with paganism and vice Yet, revival of theatre in the
late10 th century was supported by church.
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935 1002 CE First known female playwright Nun Wrote about
strong women resisting temptation
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Liturgical Drama: enacted as part of the liturgy during Mass
Cycle plays illustrating the history of the scriptures Enacted in
different areas of the church, called Mansions When taken out of
the church, called Mystery Cycles Performed by craft guilds Miracle
Plays: Based on the Saints lives
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Somewhat secular, but with Christian message Used allegory
EveryMan most famous example Always anonymous Acted on Pageant
Wagons which traveled through town
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The expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and
actions of truths or generalizations about human existence.
Merriam- Webster Dictionary
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Existed from roughly 1000 CE to 1600 CE Grew from simple
liturgical plays to great cycles and court pageants Professional
actors begin to appear in late 15 th century Church weakened by
internal conflict Rise of Universities When Elizabeth I came to the
throne she forbade all religious plays Religion was too
controversial
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When religion was outlawed as a subject in theatre, dramatists
needed other subjects to write about They looked back to the Greek
and Roman playwrights!
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Renaissance theatre is a blend of classical and medieval styles
The church had never officially lifted their condemnation of
professional actors, so they now enforced again Theatre used to be
for religious and civic functions now, for the first time, actors
had to hustle for recognition based purely on their entertainment
and artistic value Renaissance theatre is a blend of classical and
medieval styles The church had never officially lifted their
condemnation of professional actors, so they now enforced again
Theatre used to be for religious and civic functions now, for the
first time, actors had to hustle for recognition based purely on
their entertainment and artistic value