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The nature of Greek theatre
The nature of Greek theatre
The function of theatre in Greek society and the origins
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Difference between Greek and Modern Theatres
Theatre today as in ancient Greek times is a popular from of
entertainment. Today’s theatres share many similarities with the Greek
predecessors however they are also very different. There are in fact
many differences for example; layout, special effects, seating
arrangement, the importance of drama and religion, setting, location
and architectural features.
In ancient Greece festivals were mainly held at the Great Dionysia.
This was the oldest theatre in Greece and many plays were performed
here for example the first performance of Antigone. The patron of the
theatre was the God Dionysus and there was a temple near which was
dedicated in his honour. There was also a statue of the patron Goddess
Athene. Today there is no link between religion and theatre, as we
live in a multi-cultural society with people who follow many different
faiths; therefore the theatre is secular to appeal to all people.
First I will discus the various aspects of ancient Greek theatre then
compare with today’s modern version of theatre. Today it is widely
believed that theatre first began in ancient Greece, the evidence
people used to come to this conclusion was from ancient Greek plays,
Greek art and architecture.
Orchestra
[IMAGE]
The diagram on the right shows the layout of a typical Greek theatre.
The circular area in the middle of the theatre is called the
orchestra. In ancient Greek times this area would have been used for
dancing and where the ‘chorus’ would sing and perform. A ‘chorus’ was
a group of people who would play a major part in ancient plays often
describing scenes much like a modern narrator. In modern theatres
today we do not have a chorus, as it would obscure the view of the
play and maybe set the wrong atmosphere as modern audiences are less
willing to suspend their disbelief and want things to be as realistic
as possible. However we do have an area today where the orchestra sits
but it is often beneath, behind or to the side of the stage so it is
In the history of civilization, there have been many different types of theatre. There is Greek theatre and Elizabethan theater. Some are musicals, some are comedies and some are tragedies. Some types employ realistic techniques while others are more avant-gardes. But one type stands out among the rest, and that is Kabuki theatre. This classical Japanese style of dance and drama is not just theatre. It is a beautiful form of art, which has been carefully crafted over many centuries.
I agree with you. Significant battles were fought in the Eastern Theater. That theater got significantly more consideration than the Western. That is relevant to the closeness of the main capitals, the focus of newspapers in the principal cities of the East, and the popularity of Eastern generals such as George B. McClellan, Stonewall Jackson, and Robert E. Lee. As a result, the advancement that Union forces made in overcoming Confederate armies in the West and the progress through the Confederate territory without the announcement to the Eastern Theater population. Indeed, the Eastern Seaboard had the ocean fight between the north and south (Bentley,
When we think of Greece today, we think of one united nation. However, Greece was not always this way. In ancient times, Greece was divided into over a thousand city-states with Sparta and Athens being two of the most prominent ones. Due to the division of Greece back then, each city-state had their own laws, their own government, their own military and their own way of life. As a result of these differences between Athens and Sparta, daily life was very different between the two city-states and because of their laws, governments and military, your quality of life in each state was very much dependant on which gender you were. For men, Athens was most likely the city-state that you’d want to be living in during this time and on the other hand,
A Chorus Line is a musical that focuses on Broadway dances who are auditioning for spots on a chorus line. Throughout the play, the different backgrounds and struggles of the different dances are shown to the audience, explaining the behavior of the dancers. As the past of each of the dancers is unfolded, the audience understands and appreciates the musical more and more. Not only does A Chorus Line portray the difficulties that performers must overcome to be successful, it also demonstrates the real world fact that not everyone can “make it.”
As an Ancient Greek, one could expect to spend a fair amount of time in theatres for social and religious reasons. Thus, the design and construction of auditoriums was vital to the comfort and experience of viewers.
The theater of Dionysus stands at the foot of the acropolis and its date originates back to the 6th Century, B.C.. Its originally wood seats rise in tiers above one another against the slope of the acropolis, creating a natural setting for the plays (D'ooge, 231). The Greek Theater was built to house a drama which, during the festivals of Dionysus, had evolved from the long tradition of choral hymns which were presented each year. As Greek culture changed and flourished, entertainment transformed from being a series of choral chanting and dancing to placing an emphasis on the actor. As the actors' importance grew, there became a need for a stage from which they could be seen by each of the fourteen thousand spectators the theater housed. The chorus was still a very active part of the entertainment and they resided in the orchestra (Norwich, 64). The orchestra was the oldest part of the Greek theater and thus, when the actor was given
Delcayre, Celine. "The Greek Chorus Dynamic in Ancient and Contemporary Theatre." Sonoma.edu. N.p., 21 Mar. 2012. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
The role of the Chorus in the Shakespeare's play, Henry V, is significant. Due to the subject matter that the play deals with, it is hard to present in the way that it deserves. The Chorus helps the audience follow the play by helping them to picture things as they were through the use of imagery. It uses descriptive language in describing events that take place in the play. The Chorus also helps in making the plot of the play flow together better by filling the time lapses that occur between acts due to the fact that the event being depicted in only a few hours actually occurred over several years, leaving some gaps between events. It also explains what happens in an act beforehand because the scenes switch around from place to place, and it can get confusing. The most important function of the Chorus is that it encourages the audience to be patient and reminds them to use their imagination to envision the events that occur in the play, to really imagine the royal courts of England and France, and to really imagine the battle scenes with all the horses and men.
Theater was an important part of Ancient Greek Civilization. History of Greek theatre began with religious festivals which aim to honor Dionysus, a god. During the festivals some citizens sing songs and perform improvisation plays and other participants of festivals judges this performances to decide which one of them was the best. These plays form the foundation of the Greek Theatre. Because of the competition between performers to create best performances, plays gained an aesthetic perspective and became a form of art. So, theatre as a part of religious rituals took attention of people and gained an importance in Ancient Greek Society.
In classical Greek drama and tragedy, the chorus reacts, responds, and comments on the actions and plot of the play. The purpose of the chorus is to represent the customary attitude of what is occurring, to clarify the actions as well as assess the feelings of certain characters, and to overall unify the play. Traditionally, choruses consisted of males, specifically the older men of whatever territory or city-state the play takes place in. The chorus plays a vital role in the four Greek tragedies “Antigone”, “Agamemnon”, “Medea”, and “Oedipus”.
The Chorus is very much an important part of Euripedes’ Medea, and indeed many other works written in the ancient Greek style. In this play, it follows the journey Medea makes, and not only narrates, but commentates on what is happening. Euripedes uses the Chorus as a literary device to raise certain issues, and to influence where the sympathies of the audience lie.
In the Greek theatre they take on a significant role of emphasising the storyline by groups speaking in unison rather than one single actor trying to reach the ears of around 17,000 listeners. They were after all a very natural part of Greek theatre and their absence would certainly reflect an unorthodox presentation. They also keep the emotion running as any scene changes can be done during their narrative sections. In a 20th Century production, the chorus performs a seemingly less essential role. As there would be ample amplification of sound, the chorus could be projected to the role of town folk who would fit into the structure of the play neatly.
Greek and Elizabethan theatre, while similar in some respects, had a few large differences. The Greeks believed in a certain unity of theme, which was prevalent throughout the production. Greek plays were often drawn from myth or of historical significance, so it seems that only ki...
Theater originated from the religious rites of ancient Greek tribes. Located in northern Greece, a cult was formed to worship the God of wine and fertility, Dionysus. The cult held religious celebrations which included large consumptions of alcohol, animal sacrifices, and sometimes massive orgies. Theater was thought as a ritual to release powerful emotions and create pure ecstasy. The cult spread south into Greece and by 500 BC annual festivals in honor of Dionysus were held every spring.
Theatre first came about from all different cultures acting out part of their bible, or performing rituals to the Gods. It was not until the middle ages when dramatists wrote about all aspects of life. Theatre has therefore changed continuously to suit the demands of each new age for fantasy, spectacle, or serious drama.