greek theatre
There have been many artistic achievements that have had a substantial role in shaping outlooks and tastes for cultures and generations for 1000’s of years. Of all the different kinds of productions the Greeks have established, the tragedy is the most extraordinary of their spiritual contributions. Everything from style, intellect, appearance of stage, costume, and people have all been the main influences of drama and theatre over the past twenty-five hundred years. The earliest of Greek theatre’s dates back to not long before 300 B.C.. The theatre itself was a large open-air structure consisting of three parts. Its original and central element was a level circle; some ninety feet in diameter called the orchestra (which means “dancing place”) where the chorus performed. Outside one arc of the circle was a low rectangular building called skene or tent, the actors usually made there entrances and exits through and in it they changed their costumes and masks; eventually its front was decorated with simple paintings- whence the word “scenery”. Rising from the circle of the orchestra was an auditorium of many tiers of stone seats, in sections divided by transverse passages. (Greek Drama, 11). . . .
There costumes were splendid, they would wear role-markers, such as sceptres, garlands, oriental trousers, or mourning black, the standard outfit for there the main characters was elaborately ornamented. There is some evidence of actors putting up temporary wooden stages. They were famed above all for the quality and curiosity of their voices, but clearly the techniques of body language. In Greek theatre it was well known for their style in costuming. For example, a comedian might tell jokes or tease the audience in the beginning. They were the chief celebrities if the spectacular success of the new art form. With this embarrassing possibility at stake, playwrights might flatter them with a gift in the beginning of the play. As stated before the audience was moderately large. The hallmark of the comic mask, male and female was that it was ugly- all its features were distorted from the ideals, which were typical of the tragic mask. The individual who judged plays were individuals whose favor could often be swayed by audience response. In order to quiet the spectators down the actors had to do something interesting and outrageous. In fifth century Athens the playwrights, often known as teachers, were directors, composers, and trainers as well as writers. The musicians and the chorus were also finely dressed.
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