The Orgins of Greek Theatre

There is no denying the fact that theatre is truly a link between all civilizations it comes in many forms spiritual rituals, storytelling, hymns, odes, and performances. It has been utilized during the many downfalls of civilizations as a means of communication and was truly shaped by the Greeks. The origins of theatre can be traced back to the Greeks as a religious ritual to their gods, to their implementations of the technical aspects of theatre, through their plays and also through the actual stages that they constructed. These aspects have proven to have a lasting effect even into todays society and without the Greeks influence on theatre, theatre as we know it, would cease to exist (Schanker and Ommanney 298).

The origins of Greek drama began as a religious ritual to honor their gods although the one most noted is the Greek god Dionysus god of wine fertility and revelry (Wilson and Goldfarb). There were two major rituals that occurred twice annually in the City of Athens (Fiero 90) and were performed by the chorus. The chorus would dance and chant songs, in the orcoastra around an alter where a goat was sacrificed in order to commemorate the gods death. (Schanker and Ommanney 298). When the first actor, Thespis, stepped out of the chorus it proved to be a monumental change within theatre and he was known as the first actor the term “thespian” has now been given to every actor since (Schanker and Ommanney 298). These rituals then evolved into dramatic contests and became part of a festival that lasted around five to six days. On each of the last three days four plays were presented each by a different playwright (Schanker and Ommanney 298). It is recorded that in 534 B.C.E Thespis was not only the first playwright and actor...

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... of humans themselves. Human desires such as wants, needs, imagination, the desire to question understand and analyze others and the self. Although many levels of entertainment have emerged and been transformed following the Greeks, all forms of entertainment found in modern society can be traced back to Greek theatre. As Walter Benjamine stated “memory is not an instrument for exploring the past but its theatre. It is the medium of past experience, as the ground is the medium in which dead cities lie interred.” The contributions made by the Greeks through the origins of drama, to their plays, their technical aspects of theatre and the actual stage construction have proven to leave a lasting effect on civilizations throughout the world and remain evident in modern day entertainment from singing yo dancing, youtube to television, and from film to the actual theatre.