Theatre in the Golden Age of Athens

By Melinda Neale

Greek theatre at Epidaurus

Beginnings

• Greek theatre history began with festivals honoring the Gods, specifically Dionysus.

– God of wine and fertility.

• Men would perform dialogues of song and dance to welcome Dionysus.

Stage Setup• Theatrical performances were held in large open air

structures with a distinct setup.• They were originally made to hold religious

ceremonies but as theatre became more important, the religious aspects dwindled.

• Consists of Orchestra, Skene and Audience

Orchestra• Circular performance space• Located in front of Proscenium– Elevated platform where backdrops were hung

and actors performed• “Dancing Place”• Entry ways called parados

Skene• “Tent” or “hut” located behind proscenium• Retangular in shape• Backstage area where actors changed• Also served to represent play’s location– Usually set in house or palace

Audience

• Rising from orchestra • Also called koilon– Semi-circle shape

• People sat on tiers of benches• Built up side of hill– Aided in acoustics

• Divided in 2 diazoma– Upper and lower

• Front seats called proedria– Reserved for officials and priests

Actors

• Always males• Approximately 1-3 actors per play• Wore different masks to represent different

characters– Usually made of linen, wood or leather– Human and animal hair also used– Most important part of costume

• Protagonist were played by members of society with great levels of respect– Well paid

Chorus

• Sang narration of the play• Also wore masks– Different from actors

• 12-15 members• Considered “mouthpiece of society and

morality”– Suffered along with heroes

• Very active part of play

Structure of Plays

• Prologue: Spoken by 1 or 2 characters prior to appearance of chorus. Usually provides background story for performance.

• Parodos: First song sung by chorus upon entering orchestra. Accompanied by dance.

• Episodes: Acts of play• Stasimon: Ode and dance performed by chorus at end of

each episode. Reflects on what audience has just seen• Exodos: End of play. Processional song which often

provided words of wisdom to audience.

Theatrical Forms

• Tragedy• Comedy• Satyr

Tragedy• Based on conflict• Tensions at work:

– Murder and Revenge– Crime and Retribution– Pride and Humility– Courage and Cowardess

• Explores physical and moral depths to which human life can descend• Subject was typical death, and lessons living can learn from the dead• Focused on friction between individual and community

– Will of the Gods• Conflicts manifests itself in flaw (weakness) of protagonist

– Brings character in conflict• Tragedy is most well known form of Greek Theatre

Playwrights of Greek Tragedy

• Sophocles– Oedipus Rex– Electra

• Eurpides– Medea– Bacchae

• Aeschylus– Prometheus Bound

Comedy• Amusing/light-hearted play• Designed to make audience

laugh• Freely ridiculed public figures

and Gods– Foreigners and women

particular subjects• Most knowledge comes from

vase paintings and plays written by Aristophanes– Only 11 out of 44 fully remain

Satyr

• Deliberate absurdity• Based on Greek mythology– Mock drunkenness– Bad sexuality– Pranks and gags

• Generally had aspects of tragedy– Solemnity of tragedy noticeably absent

• Amusing effects– Didn’t depend on action (like comedy)– Depended on how chorus played off action