Greek Drama & Stagecraft Table of Contents History of Greek Drama Theaters & Actors Setting the Stage The Audience s Experience
History of Greek Drama Worship of Dionysus The whole idea of performing songs and dances for an audience originated as a way to worship Dionysus. A festival was held every winter in his honor, in order to insure the arrival of spring and harvest
History of Greek Drama Another festival was held in the spring to celebrate the renewal of life. Men dressed in goat skins (tragados), and sang songs of praise to the god. (tragados and odi tragon or goat song are the etymology of our word tragedy ) The festival of Dionysus was introduced in Athens in the 6th Century and theater as we know it was born.
History of Greek Drama The group of performers, known as the chorus, would sing odes. Eventually the first playwright, Thespis, added an actor who would talk to and respond to the chorus. Dialogue was born. During the largest festival of Dionysus, the Dionysia, playwrights began competing with one another. This festival was the Olympics of drama.
History of Greek Drama The festival lasted for three days. Each of three playwrights would present three tragedies and one satyr play (a farce). Playwrights would not only write the play, but compose the music, choreographed the dance, designed the costumes and played the major role. Plays were performed from dawn to dusk and a panel of judges would determine the winner. With winning came money and more importantly honor for the playwright.
History of Greek Drama At first the Greek public would finance the plays, but later wealthy citizens would produce the plays. The financier of a winning play, called a choregos, was entitled to erect a choregic monument marking the achievement.
History of Greek Drama The monument would be inscribed with the names of the choregos, the ruling archon and the artists. A bronze victory tripod would be placed on top of the monuments to honor Dionysus.
Actors Masks & Gestures Due to the large size of the theater (seated 20,000 people) and the distance of the spectators from the performers, enlarged masks and large and definite gestures were used by actors.
Actors The masks of tragedy were of an ordinary, face-fitting size, with wigs attached and open mouths to allow clear speech. Contrary to some theories it is now believed that the masks were subtle in decoration and expression.
Actors The Dramatists The playwrights would often act in their creations. In the beginning of drama there was only one actor, but eventually another and then another was finally added. Actors were usually wealthy men of leisure who had a passion for acting and the theater.
Theaters Theaters Theaters went through an evolution of their own. Different parts of the theater were added as drama progressed. Most of the tragedies and comedies from 5th and 4th centuries BCE were all written for performance in the Theater of Dionysus at Athens.
Theaters Greek Drama was always performed in outdoor theaters. Early Greek theaters were probably little more than open areas in city centers or next to hillsides where the audience could sit and watch the chorus singing about the exploits of gods and heroes. From the late 6th century BCE to the 4th and 3rd centuries there was a gradual evolution towards more elaborate theater structures.
Theaters Remains of the Theater of Dionysus
Theaters A computer recreation of the Theater of Dionysus during the Roman Empire
Setting the Stage A diagram of the layout of an early Theater
Setting the Stage Orchestra The orchestra was normally circular. It was a level space where the chorus would dance, sing and interact with the actors who were on the stage near the skene. There was often an altar or thymele in the center of the orchestra. Theatron The theatron (literally meaning Viewingplace ) is where the spectators sat
Setting the Stage Theatron Continued It was usually built into the hillside and overlooked the orchestra.
Setting the Stage Skene The skene (literally tent ) was the building directly behind the stage. Usually the skene was decorated as a temple, palace or other building as needed. It had at least one set of doors, and actors could make entrances and exits through them. There was also access to the roof, for actors playing watchmen or gods.
Setting the Stage Parodos Parodoi (literally passageways ) are the paths that the chorus and some actors representing messengers or travelers from afar would make their entrances and exits. The spectators would also use these to get in and out of the theatron area.
Audience s Experience The Greeks were avid drama lovers Greek citizens would anxiously anticipate the festival of Dionysus and the drama competition. On the day of the competition the citizens would pour into the theatron. Earlier sitting on cushions or boards, but later on marble seats.
Audience s Experience The Greeks would, in earlier times, pay 2 obols (about a day s wages), to get admission. The government would provide free admission for the poor so that all citizens could participate. Later admission was free for all and the audience voted for the winner by applause. The day would be hot, but bearable, and the plays would begin. The competition was between three playwrights, who were considered the best.
Audience s Experience The first day of the festival the first playwright would present three tragedies and one satyr (later a comedy). The audience would patiently watch as the first story would unfold. Afterwards, there was an intermission with more farcical performances, followed by the second play. After the first day of dramas was complete, the citizens of Greece would continue to show up and watch two more days worth of plays.
Audience s Experience After the third day, a winning playwright was decided, sometimes by audience applause. A ceremony honoring both Dionysus and the playwright would follow.