Greek Theatre
1. Explain when and why plays, both tragic and comic, were performed in 5th century Athens.The Aristotelian tradition, defined tragedy as a drama which concerns better than average people (heroes, kings, gods) who suffer a transition from good fortune to bad fortune, and who speak in an elevated language. Comedy concerns average, or below average, people who enjoy a transition from bad circumstances too good (but not too good) and who speak everyday language. In fifth-century BC Athens there were no regular theatrical performances. Instead, plays were performed at two great festivals held in honour of Dionysus. There were many strange legends about Dionysus. He was the son of Zeus, but by Semele, with whom Zeus had an affair, not by his wife Hera. Hera had Semele killed by a thunderbolt, but Zeus rescued her unborn child and hid him in his thigh, from which he was eventually born. Dionysus was especially associated with fertility, both of humans and crops. The Athenian people believed that every year, at the end of March, Dionysus brought spring back to the countryside, passing through the farms and fields of Athens, blessing the growing crops so that the harvest would be fruitful. . . .
There were only three, or sometimes four, actors, who changed masks and costumes many times during the course of a play. The choregos were responsible for most of the production costs, including the choosing and training of the chorus and the provision of costumes, scenery and musicians. Behind the stage was the skene, a timber building containing dressing rooms, with a flat roof on which scenes could be staged. They may also have read out specimens of their work. Religious festivals were attended by everyone, and it seems probable that women and girls, who otherwise led a very secluded life, were able to attend. He continued to experiment, although his ideas were often too abstract for tragedy. The last of the three great Athenian dramatists, and during his lifetime perhaps the most controversial, Euripides was the first playwright to use the chorus as a commentator; the first to put contemporary language into the mouths of heroes; and the first to interpret human suffering without reference to the wisdom of gods. The actors probably went down to the orchestra frequently, but there are very few indications that the chorus came up onto the stage. Comedies relating to contemporary Athenian life were often presented at this festival. As a youth, he was trained to be an athlete. Actors frequently had to make a quick change from one part to another and the use of masks made this transformation easy. The majority of the audience probably consisted of ordinary citizens, as these people were admitted free of charge. He was competing with others to gain influence and recognition. Although the Athenians saw drama as an art form, they also regarded the plays as elements of formal religious observance.
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