A Greek Theater

• Altar-used for sacrifices to Dionysis

• Orchestra- circular acting area-66 ft in diameter

• Theatron-the raked audience seating

• “seeing place”

• Parados-entrance

• Skene-used for scenery, prop, costume storage, change room

• Outdoor amphitheaters with sun for lighting

• Built into hill for raked seating, facing a scene of natural beauty

• 15,000-17,000 spectators

Greek theater at Delphi

Epidaurus Theater

Theater of Dionysis

Greek Precinct

Greek Special Effects

• Deus ex machina-crane, used to fly Gods

• Ekkyklema-platform with wheels, used to roll out dead bodies-reveal a tableaux

Ekklyklema and Machina

Ekklyklema

How was Greek Theatre performed?

Chorus

Chorus

• Consisted of 12-15 men in tragedy

• 24 men in comedy• functioned as one saying

lines in unison• Left over from dithyramb• Represented citizens of

city-state• Audience related to chorus• Sung and danced• All wore same mask

• Function of Chorus: give exposition (background info), interact with characters, comment on action, give moral and theme of play, describe offstage action, raise philosophical questions, urge main characters to show restraint

Costumes

• Ornate and elaborate tunics designed to make characters appear large for tragedies.

• Everyday or over exaggerated clothing for comedies.

Masks

Masks

• Covered whole head

• Amplified voice

• Detailed (hair)

• Showed character

• Made character easily recognizable

• 1 actor could play multiple roles

• Showed emotion

Music

• flute-with tone like modern oboe or clarinet

• lyre, trumpet, percussion sometimes for special effects

• flute player or playwright composed music (unsure)

• to create mood (like scores to film)

Dance

• any expressive rhythmical movement

• perhaps moment by moment symbolic gestures

• orchestra-meaning dancing place

Acting• Impossible to know for sure

• Not realistic, due to masks and men playing female roles and one actor playing multiple

• Lottery for best actors because it is impossible to discern the quality of a play with bad acting

• Dancelike movement and chanting

• Voice most important- not realistic but emotional tone, beauty, and adaptability

• stylized, exaggerated, symbolic gestures

The Greek Theater

• Altar

• Orchestra

• Theatron

• Parados

• Skene

Greek Performance

• Special effects-ekklyklema, mechane

• Chorus-functional to plot

• Masks

• Costumes

• Acting