Physical+Structure+and+Stagecraft+of+Classical+Greek+Theater

Ancient Greek theaters were very large, open, and took advantage of hillsides for their seating. They were also built in city centers or any place where people could watch the story being acted out unfold. Every theater had the same basic structure.

= PARTS OF THE THEATRE =

Theatron
The large seating area or **//theatron//** ("viewing place") is built into the side of a hill and partially surrounds the orchestra, similar to a stadium today. People usually sat on cushions or boards, but eventually sat on marble seats.

Orchestra
The core of any Greek theater is the **//orchestra//** ("dancing space"). It was a flat, circular space where the dancers and actors would interact. There was often an altar built in the center. The earliest orchestras had dirt floors, as the theater developed, orchestras began to be paved with marble and other materials.

Skene
The **//skene//** ("tent") was a building behind the orchestra where actors could make entrances, exits, and even climb up on the roof. It was decorated to fit the setting of the play, equivalent to the modern-day backstage and set.

Parados
A **//parados//** ("passageway") was a path near the stage. Paradoi were corridors through which actors and chorus members could make entrances and exits. The audience also used them to come and go before and after performances.

Proskenion
The //**proskenion**// ("in front of the skene") was a rectangular acting area in front of the skene. The proskenion was either on ground level or raised, depending on the time period. It was also called the **//okribas//**.

Development of the Greek Theater
The Greek theater was originally comprised of a circular orchestra loosely connected to a separate rectangular skene. However, as the theater evolved, a proskenion was stretched between the paraskenion (side stages) off the skene and cut into the circle. This new semicircular structure helped unite the theatron to the theater.

Indoor theatres
There were a few indoor theatres that were used for musical performances and particular types of tradegies. These were called **//Odeias.//**

Machines
The **//Aeorema//** was a crane that was used to transport the gods into and out of the scenes. The //**Periactoi**// were two pyramid shaped pillars that were positioned on the left and right side of the skene. When the pivoted, it helped change the background of the scene. The **//Ekeclema//** was a wheeled platform on which dead bodies were presented to the audience. A murder or suicide was never performed in front of the crowd.



=SIGNIFICANT GREEK THEATERS=

Dodoni was a special place in ancient greek and it remains special to this date.The **sanctuary of Dodoni** was as spiritual place in **ancient Greece**. It was the oldest of the **Greek oracles.**

**Epidaurus**


Epidaurus was built round the 3d Century BC and it is adorned with a multitude of buildings most famous of which is the ancient Theater of Epidaurus. It was a healing center as well as a cultural center in ancient times.This is one of the very few theaters that retains its original circular "Orchestra" and it is a rear aesthetic sight. The theater is still in use today with frequent plays, concerts, and festivals.

The Theatre of Dionysus
The theater was built into the south slope of the Acropolis. It was the first theater in the world to be built of stone, it was also the first theater to perform a tragedy. The theater was built in stages and could seat 17,000 spectators.



Pergamum Theatre
This theatre located in modern-day Turkey was the steepest theaters in the ancient world. The seats extended 122 feet above the orchestra. ==

==

=WHAT WOULD YOU SEE IN THE THEATRE?= //Ancient Greek theater was a "... mixture of myth, legend, philosophy,// //social commentary, poetry, dance, music, public participation, and visual splendor." (Cohen 64)// = = =**Costumes**=

Cothornous
Cothurnus played a very important role in Ancient Greek theatre. As Ancient Greek theatre developed, so did the cothurnus. They become more decorative and the lengths of the tops of the boots started to become more varied. Usually, the most powerful man would be wearing cothurnus, or at least the nicest pair of cothurnus. The boots were also different heights. The taller the character in the play, the more important he was. Corthurnus are the first shoes with modern day “lifts”.

Masks
 Masks were the most important element of the costumes. These huge masks could usually be seen from the very back of the theatre. Masks were overly dramatic and showed the emotion of the actor. Because the number of actors varied from one to three, they had to put on different masks in order to play more roles.The actors were all men so the mask was therefore necessary to let them play the female roles. Usually the masks were made of linen, wood, or leather. A marble or stone face was used as a mould for the mask. Human or animal hair was also used. The eyes were fully drawn but in the place of the pupil of the eye was a small hole so that the actor could see. The shape of the masks helped amplify the actors voice making it easier for the audience to hear them in the back of the theatre.

=** Chorus **=

The chorus was very important to the plot of the play. Without the chorus the audience would be confused, as the chorus is the main narrator of the storyline. The choregos was kind of the head of the chorus and paid all the expenses including masks, music, costumes, and any other production items. The size ranged from 12-15 people depending on the type of play. Also, the name of the chorus changed for the different types of play. In a tragedy, the chorus was solemn and called "emmelia." In a comedy, it was funny and called "codrax." In a satyric drama, it was scoptic and called "sicinnis."

**Actors**
The cast of a Greek play were amateurs, not professionals. All males.Actors had to gesture grandly so that the entire audience could see and hear the story. Since the cast was all men they had to come up with costumes that portrayed them as women. In order to have a female appearance, they wore a "//[|prosternida]//" (before the chest, imitating a woman's breasts) and the "//[|progastrida]//" before the belly.

=﻿Special Effects=

Deus ex Machina
//**Deus ex Machina,**//the "God from the Machine", was often used in Greek drama. Many times, a god would rescue the hero when they were in an impossible situation. A crane-like machine involving pulleys and wires would lower the god onto the stage, and the character would be saved. Today, when a playwright ends with an happy or convenient conclusion it is often frowned upon.It might be fine for a comedy, but in serious works of drama, most critics and audience members want to see the protagonist succeed or fail. For example, In //Medea//, Euripides uses Deus ex Machina when Medea is rescued by a dragon-drawn chariot.

=GREEK PEOPLE AND THE THEATRE=

Preferential Seating
The preferred seats or //**Proedria**// were usually given to priests, magistrates and other dignitaries. The middle seat in the front row was usually reserved for the high priest or a position of matching authority. It was the most sought after seat in the theatre and was usually inscribed with the title of the person in the position. There was also seats blocked off for members of the boule, or the 500 member Executive Council of the Assembly.

Theatre Tickets
Tickets today haven't changed much from the Greek era. On the ticket would be a letter which referred to a specific row of seats. The price of a theatre ticket was about 2 obols, equal to a day's work of an unskilled laborer. Athens had a special fund for citizens that could not afford the tickets. Those who enrolled could receive the money for a ticket. This Theoric Fund shows the focus put that was put on attending the theatre.