Ancient Beginnings

 

• Began 2500 years ago in the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens.

• According to legend, late in the sixth century a man named Thespis had the idea to add speaking actors to the performances of choral song and dance (hence the word `thespians' is derived from Thespis)

• Masked actors performed outdoors, in daylight, before audiences of 10 000 or more at festivals in honour of Dionysus, the god of theatre.

• The comedy and tragedy which developed in Athens and flourished in
  the fifth and fourth centuries have influenced nearly all subsequent Western drama, starting with that of the Romans.

• The Romans, with their love of spectacle took over the existing Greek theatres and rebuild them performing everything from pantomime to mock naval battles.

 

The Stage

 

• The theatre of Dionysus was first dug out of the slope beneath the south side of the Acropolis in the late sixth century.

• Only one part of the precinct or `temenos' of Dionysus.

• Originally contained only the Older Temple of Dionysus and a sacrificial altar. Later a hall or `stoa' was added and a second temple built further south.

• The highest row of seats was 125 feet giving clear view to audience of altars and temples.

• More importantly, Dionysus himself (represented by his cult statue
  seated in front row) could observe not only the choral performances but the sacrifices made at his altar.

• In the mid fifth century, Pericles rebuilt the ruins of the Acropolis as a recital hall or `odeion`.

• This was used for many purposes one being the `proagon' - a ceremony in which dramatic poets announced the titles of their plays and introduced the actors. Members of the chorus would wait in the `Odeion' to make their appearance.

The Players

 

• Greek tragedy and comedy originated with the chorus, and the most important part of the performance space was the orchestra which means `a place for dancing`.

• A tragic chorus consisted of 12 or 15 `choreuts`. The effort of dancing and singing through three tragedies and a satire play was likened to that of competing in the Olympic Games.

• In contrast to the chorus, there were only three actors in fifth
  century Athenian tragedy. The original word for actor was `hypokrites` meaning answerer, for the actor answered the chorus.

• Each actor usually played several different roles and it was possible to divide the speaking parts up.

• Players could see the audience and the audience themselves were players.

 

The chorus were both participants and observers whilst the public were:
(a) active partners in the performance
(b) free to comment within the performance
(c) free to commented upon from the stage
(d) to assist the actors
(e) to intervene

 

• In the Comedies the audience could be physically assaulted with fruit and nuts from the stage if the actors so desired.

• Audience was both judge and jury and the chorus spoke directly to the audience.

• The Chorus surrounded the audience and the auditorium was an extension to the orchestra circle.

• The Chorus was drawn from the public at large. Citizens were elected and were
  unpaid. It was considered a civic duty. They were trained and costumed at the State's expense often through wealthy citizens.

• The Chorus entrance was known as the `parodos' meaning aisle - a song marked the entrance. The `exodos' marked the ending.

• The Chorus stayed in the orchestra space unless a scene changed. They gave the musical component to the performance and their choral lyrics shaped and divided the play

 

Their main functions were:
(a) to act as narrator telling stories and giving information
(b) to be actors when called upon
(c) as participants
(d) as observers
(e) they could remain inside or outside the action

 

• The Chorus in the Old Comedies were often composed of non-human creatures such as wasps, frogs, birds or even clouds.

The Masks

 

• The size of the theatre (in final form seating 20 000 people) and the distance of spectators from performers dictated a non-naturalistic approach to acting.

• Gestures needed to be big so they could be `read' in the back rows.

• Hence masks were used for effect. These masks were of an ordinary, face fitting size with wigs attached and open mouths for clear speech.

• The masks of the Greek Old Comedy were distorted caricatures, sometimes of real people. Ugly and silly with ludicrous padded costumes.

• Tragic actors wore elaborate pattern woven garments whilst Comedy actors wore loose body stockings padded at the breast, buttocks and stomach with long floppy phalluses for the male characters.