ROMAN THEATRE

Brief Roman History509 B.C

Etruscan (from Etruria) ruler was expelled, and Rome became a republic (just as Athens became a democracy).

Roman theatre and festivals highly influenced by Etruscan practices

by 345 B.CThere were over 175 festivals a year

240 B.CThe beginnings of Roman theatre recordedThe first record of drama at the ludi Romani (Roman Festival or Roman Games).Brief Roman History

55 B.C

First stone theatre built in Rome by order of Julius Caesar.Brief Roman History

Roman Theatre

Borrowed Greek ideas and improved (?) upon them

Topics less philosophical

Entertainment tended to be grandiose, sentimental, diversionary

Included more than drama : acrobaticsgladiatorsjugglersathleticschariots racesnaumachia (sea battles) boxingvenationes (animal fights)Roman Theatre

3 Major Influences

Greek Drama

Etruscan influences, which emphasized circus-like elements

Fabula Atellana which introduced FARCE (Atella was near Naples). Roman Theatre

Roman TheatreFarce

Short improvised farces, with stock characters, similar costumes and masks

based on domestic life or mythology

burlesque, parody

Most popular during the 1st century B.C., then frequency declined

Roman TheatreFarce

Probably was the foundation for commedia dell Arte

Productions included stock characters:Bucco: braggart, boisterous

Pappas: foolish old man

Dossenus: swindler, drunk, hunchback

Roman TheatrePantomime

solo dance, with music (lutes, pipes, cymbals) and a chorus. Used masksThe story-telling was usually mythology or historical stories, usually serious but sometimes comic.

Roman TheatreMime

overtook after 2nd century A.D.The Church did not like MimeMost common attributes of mime:SpokenUsually shortSometimes elaborate casts and spectacle

Roman Theatre

Serious or comic (satiric)No masksHad womenViolence and sex depicted literally (Heliogabalus, ruled 218-222 A.D., ordered realistic sex)Scoffed at Christianity

Roman FestivalsHeld in honor of the gods, but much less religious than the Greeks

Performances at festivals probably paid for by the state.

Were often lengthy and included a series of plays or events, and probably had prizes awarded tp those who put extra money in.

Roman FestivalsActing troupes (perhaps several a day) put on theatre events.

Festivals were sometimes repeated, since whenever any irregularity in the rituals occurred, the entire festival, including the plays, had to be repeated. (known as instauratio)

Roman Festivalsludi = official religious festivals

these were preceded by pompa = religious procession

Roman Festivals

ludi Romani

oldest of the official festivals

held in September and honored Jupiter

regular performance of comedy and tragedy began in 364 B.C.

Roman Tragedy

Characteristics of Roman Tragedy

5 acts/episodes divided by choral odes

included elaborate speechesinterested in moralityunlike Greeks, they depicted violence on stage

Roman Tragedy

Characteristics of Roman Tragedy

characters dominated by a single passion which drives them to doom (ex: obsessiveness or revenge)

developed technical devices such as: soliloquies, asides, confidants

interest in supernatural and human connections

Roman Tragedy

Seneca (5 or 4 B.C. 65 A.D.)

only playwright of tragedy whose plays survived

Nine extant tragedies, five adapted from Euripides (Gr.)

Though considered to be inferior, Seneca had a strong effect on later dramatists.

Roman Tragedy

Seneca (5 or 4 B.C. 65 A.D.)

WroteThe Trojan Women, Media, Oedipus, Agamemnon, etc., which were all based on Greek originals

His plays were probably closet dramasnever presented, or even expected to be.

Roman Comedy

Characteristics of Roman ComedyChorus was abandoned

No act or scene divisions

Concerned everyday, domestic affairs

Action placed in the street

Roman Comedy

Material from only 2 playwrights survived

Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.)

Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.)

Roman Comedy

Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.)

Very popular.

Plays include: Pot of Gold, The Menaechmi, Braggart Warrior

All based on Greek New Comedies, probably, none of which has survived

Roman Comedy

Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.)

Added Roman allusions, Latin dialog, witty jokes

varied poetic meters

Developed Slapstick & Songs

Roman Comedy

Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.)

Wrote only six plays, all of which survive, including: The Brothers, Mother-in-Law

More complex plots combined stories from Greek originals.

Roman Comedy

Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.)

Character and double-plots were his forte

Less boisterous than Plautus, less episodic, more elegant language.

Used Greek characters.

Less popular than Plautus.

Roman Theatre Design

Roman Theatre Design

First permanent Roman theatre built 54 A.D. (100 years after the last surviving comedy)

Roman Theatre Design

General CharacteristicsBuilt on level ground with stadium-style seating (audience raised)

Roman Theatre Design

General CharacteristicsStage raised to five feet

Stages were large 20-40 ft deep100-300 ft long

Roman Theatre DesignGeneral CharacteristicsTheatre could seat 10-15,000 people

dressing rooms in side wings

stage was covered with a room

Roman Theatre Design

General Characteristics

trap doors were common

cooling system air blowing over streams of water

awning over the audience to protect them from the sun

Roman Theatre Design

Scaena

stage house

joined with audience to form one architectural unit

Roman Theatre Design

Scaena frons

front/faade of the stage house

was painted and had columns, niches, porticoes, statues

Roman Theatre Design

Orchestra

becomes half-circle

was probably used for gladiators and for the display and killing of wild animals

if entertainment permitted, people were sat here

Roman Theatre Design

Vomitoria

corridors under the seats that lead onto the orchestra

Roman Theatre Design

Pulpitum

the stage

Cavea

the auditorium

Roman Theatre Design

Other structures included:

Circus Maximus

Ampitheatres

Roman Theatre Design

Circus Maximus

Primarily for Chariot racingPermitted 12 chariots to race at once

Roman Theatre Design

AmpitheatresFor gladiator contests, wild animal fights, and occasionally naumachiaHad space with elevators below to bvring up animals, etc.

Roman Actors

Referred to as histriones, cantores (means declaimers), and mimes later primarily histriones

Mostly male women were in mimes

Roman Actors

Mimes were considered inferior; some believed they were slaves.

In the 1st century B.C., a "star" performer seems to have been emphasized

Roman ActorsStyle of Acting

Mostly Greek traditions masks, doubling of roles

Tragedy slow, stately,

Comedymore rapid and conversational

Roman ActorsStyle of Acting

Movements likely enlarged

Actors probably specialized in one type of drama, but did others

Encores if favorite speeches given (no attempt at "realism")

Roman ActorsStyle of Acting

Mimes no masks

Used Greek or Roman costumes

Lots of music