AntigoneAntigone & Ancient & Ancient

Greek Greek TheatreTheatre

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

700 BCE- Greek culture begins 700 BCE- Greek culture begins writingwriting

534 BCE- The First Tragedy Play 534 BCE- The First Tragedy Play CompetitionCompetition

Festival Of DionysusFestival Of Dionysus

The festival was held in the city of The festival was held in the city of Dionysia. Dionysia.

It lasted for It lasted for FIVE DAYS and FIVE DAYS and nights.nights.

Everyone attended. Everyone attended.

All businesses closed. All businesses closed.

DionysusDionysus

The festival paid tribute to The festival paid tribute to Dionysus, Dionysus, the god of wine and fertilitythe god of wine and fertility. .

He was the son of Zeus (ruler of the He was the son of Zeus (ruler of the gods) and Semele (a mortal woman). gods) and Semele (a mortal woman). To protect his son from the wrath of To protect his son from the wrath of Hera (Zeus’ wife) he took him to Hera (Zeus’ wife) he took him to Mount Nysa where the mountain Mount Nysa where the mountain nymphs raised him. nymphs raised him.

THE FIRST TRAGEDY PLAY THE FIRST TRAGEDY PLAY COMPETITIONCOMPETITION

The competition took place over The competition took place over three three daysdays, beginning on the second day of , beginning on the second day of the the Festival of DionysusFestival of Dionysus. At the time . At the time there were only three major there were only three major playwrights, so each of them had an playwrights, so each of them had an entire day to present their plays. entire day to present their plays.

They each put on They each put on THREE THREE TRAGEDIESTRAGEDIES and and ONE SATYR PLAY.ONE SATYR PLAY.

The prize for winning the festival was The prize for winning the festival was a wreath of ivy. a wreath of ivy.

THE FIRST TRAGEDY PLAY THE FIRST TRAGEDY PLAY COMPETITION continuedCOMPETITION continued

Only men were allowedOnly men were allowed at the play at the play competition.competition.

Courts were closed. Prisoners were Courts were closed. Prisoners were temporarily released. temporarily released.

The Greeks considered the plays and The Greeks considered the plays and essential part of Greek education. essential part of Greek education.

Satyr PlaysSatyr Plays

Satyr Plays were crude, satirical Satyr Plays were crude, satirical versions (satires) of Greek versions (satires) of Greek Tragedies.Tragedies.

They often made fun of heroes or They often made fun of heroes or myths. myths.

ThespisThespis

Thespis was the winner of the first Thespis was the winner of the first tragedy play contesttragedy play contest. .

He won when he stepped out from the He won when he stepped out from the chorus and spoke lines by himself. He chorus and spoke lines by himself. He added to the Greek tragedy the ideas added to the Greek tragedy the ideas of a prologue spoken by one performer of a prologue spoken by one performer and lines being spoken by a character. and lines being spoken by a character.

He is considered the first actor.He is considered the first actor. That is why actors are also known as That is why actors are also known as Thespians.Thespians.

Evolution of Greek TheatreEvolution of Greek Theatre

A second character wasn’t added to A second character wasn’t added to Greek tragedies until around 500 Greek tragedies until around 500 BCE- 34 YEARS LATER!!!BCE- 34 YEARS LATER!!!

The Greek ChorusThe Greek Chorus Before Thespis, all plays were performed Before Thespis, all plays were performed

by a by a Chorus, or group of men speaking Chorus, or group of men speaking the same dialogue together at the the same dialogue together at the same timesame time. .

The chorus functioned much like a The chorus functioned much like a narrator. Often the chorus would split in narrator. Often the chorus would split in half and would say lines back and forth in a half and would say lines back and forth in a dialogue (conversation) between two or dialogue (conversation) between two or more characters.more characters.

The chorus started as 50 men, but over The chorus started as 50 men, but over time it was reduced to between 12-15.time it was reduced to between 12-15.

Greek Chorus continuedGreek Chorus continued

The chorus interacted with the The chorus interacted with the characters in the play, giving characters in the play, giving commentary or criticizing. commentary or criticizing.

The The choraguschoragus, or chorus leader, , or chorus leader, would often speak as a would often speak as a representative for the entire representative for the entire chorus in these moments.chorus in these moments.

The Greek AmphitheatreThe Greek Amphitheatre

The Greek Amphitheatre was The Greek Amphitheatre was built into the side of a hill. built into the side of a hill.

The Greek AmphitheatreThe Greek Amphitheatre

They held between 15,000 and They held between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators.20,000 spectators.

Here’s a little perspective: our gym Here’s a little perspective: our gym holds less than 2,000 people.holds less than 2,000 people.

The way they were built made it The way they were built made it easier for a performer to be heard in easier for a performer to be heard in the back rows. Because of their the back rows. Because of their brilliance in design, we still use many brilliance in design, we still use many of their ideas in building theatres and of their ideas in building theatres and performance spaces today. performance spaces today.

Greek Amphitheatre continuedGreek Amphitheatre continued

The typical Greek amphitheatre contained a The typical Greek amphitheatre contained a circular circular Orchestra and a Skene House.Orchestra and a Skene House.

Greek Amphitheatre continuedGreek Amphitheatre continued

SKENE HOUSE was a permanent structure SKENE HOUSE was a permanent structure built behind the Orchestra.built behind the Orchestra. It had several It had several doors/doorway which served as entrances/exits. doors/doorway which served as entrances/exits. It was the scenery for the plays.It was the scenery for the plays. The rooms The rooms inside were used for dressing rooms, offices inside were used for dressing rooms, offices and storage. and storage.

Greek Play CharacteristicsGreek Play Characteristics

Greek plays usually begin with a Greek plays usually begin with a prologue- a scene that introduces prologue- a scene that introduces the conflict of the play.the conflict of the play. This was often This was often spoken by a character directly to the spoken by a character directly to the audience. audience.

The prologue is followed by the The prologue is followed by the parados- the entrance of the chorus.parados- the entrance of the chorus.

The play ended with the The play ended with the exodus- the exodus- the final scene.final scene.

Greek Play Characteristics Greek Play Characteristics continuedcontinued

Because the action in the play moves so Because the action in the play moves so quickly, quickly, offstage actionoffstage action is very important is very important in Greek tragedies. in Greek tragedies.

THE GREEKS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO THE GREEKS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY VIOLENCE ONSTAGEPORTRAY VIOLENCE ONSTAGE, even , even though it was almost always essential to though it was almost always essential to the story. the story.

A messenger would be used to share A messenger would be used to share important news of what has happened important news of what has happened elsewhere.elsewhere.

Greek MasksGreek Masks

Greek performers also wore Greek performers also wore elaborate maskselaborate masks with exaggerated with exaggerated expressions.expressions.

They helped them show emotions They helped them show emotions and with projecting their voicesand with projecting their voices to the back of the amphitheatre. to the back of the amphitheatre.

Without masks, audience members Without masks, audience members in the back would have a more in the back would have a more difficult time understanding the play.difficult time understanding the play.

Greek MasksGreek Masks

Protagonist & AntagonistProtagonist & Antagonist

The main character in a literary The main character in a literary work is called the “work is called the “protagonistprotagonist.” .”

This character, who is at the center This character, who is at the center of the action, is the one with whom of the action, is the one with whom the audience most sympathizes. the audience most sympathizes.

In contrast, In contrast, the character who is the character who is in conflict with the protagonist is in conflict with the protagonist is the “the “antagonistantagonist.”.”