Classic Greek Theatre

1
Classic Greek Theatre

• By Rebecca Kelly, Dana Yberg, Rachel Altman,
  Cristina Carter, and Josh Hewitt

2
Parts of Ancient Greek Theatre

• Skene Where the actors preformed. It served as
  a background for the play as well as a stage
• Three machines
• Aeorema- crane that made the actors fly to appear
  as gods
• Periactori- change the background
• Ekeclema- moving platform to bring dead bodies
  out on stage
• Orchestra Where the chorus was located
• In front of the skene (center of the theatre)
• Koilon where people sat
• First made out of wood, then stone

3
The Structure of Ancient Greek Plays

• Prologue in the form of a small speech to give
  the audience an exposition
• tended to be spoken by one or two characters
• Paradox The chorus enters the orchestra
• Establishes the mood of the play

4

• Episode the actors and chorus sung and talked,
  etc.
• There were many episodes
• When an episode finished a staismon begun. The
  actors left the stage and the chorus sings and
  dances to an ode that corresponded with the
  episode
• Exodus the chorus sings a song while leaving
  that wraps up or gives words of wisdom

5
Major Themes in Ancient Greek Plays

• Plays often centered around Dionysus, the god of
  fertility
• Tragedy
• Most Greek tragedies are based on mythology and
  deal with characters' search for the meaning of
  life and the nature of the gods.
• Comedy
• Most famous playwright was Aristophanes
• Plays often feature
• violence and daily life
• social and ethical plays
• war
• murder
• lust
• betrayal

6

1. What are the three main parts of an Ancient Greek
   theatre?
2. What are the two main types of Greek plays?
3. What is the last section of Ancient Greek plays?

7
Bibliography

• Phillip, K. "ACTORS IN ANCIENT GREEK THEATRE."
  Rich East. 29 Mar. 2000. Web. 16 Mar. 2011.
  lthttp//www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/theatre/stage
  .htmlgt.
• Englert, Walter. "Greek Theater." Reed College.
  Web. 16 Mar. 2011. lthttp//academic. reed.edu/huma
  nities/110tech/Theater.htmlgt.
• Robinson, Scott R. "Theatre and Drama in Ancient
  Greece." Central Washington University. 2010.
  Web. 18 Mar. 2011. lthttp//www.cwu.edu/robinsos/p
  pages/resources/Theatre_History/Theahis_2.htmlgt.
• Phillips, K. "ANCIENT GREEK THEATRE." Rich East.
  29 Mar. 2000. Web. 18 Mar. 2011.
  lthttp//www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/theatre/theat
  re.htmlgt.