The birth of Theatre
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Transcript of The birth of Theatre
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The birth of Theatre
Storytelling, Egypt, the Bible and the Greek
stage
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Ancient Storytelling The teller of stories has everywhere
and always found eager listeners.
Whether his tale is the mere report of
a recent happening, a
legend of long ago, or an elaborately contrived fiction, men and women
have hung upon his words and satisfied their yearnings for
information or amusement, for
incitement to heroic deeds, for
religious edification, or for release from the
overpowering monotony of their
lives. —Stith Thompson
www.youhelpindia.org/ ucandoit/story.html
This oral tradition was a form of entertainment
and education.
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The earliest The earliest record of a record of a theatrical theatrical performance performance was in Egypt was in Egypt over 4000 over 4000 years ago. years ago.
www.dearauntnettie.com/gallery/ museum-zerotolerance.htm
In time, people probably began acting out stories In time, people probably began acting out stories of hunts or religious events.of hunts or religious events.
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All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples.
were about the ascent of the soul to become a star. They were written on tomb walls and performed by priests. Pyramid plays include plot, characters and basic stage directions.
Pyramid plays
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All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples.
was performed at the crowning of a new pharaoh.
Pyramid plays
The Coronation Festival Play
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also known as the Coronation Jubilee play, enacted events of the pharaoh’s reign during his thirtieth
year on the throne.
All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples.
Pyramid plays
The Coronation Festival Play
The Heb Sed
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told the story of magical healing from the goddess Isis.
The Medicinal Play
All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples.
Pyramid plays
The Heb Sed
Pyramid plays
The Coronation Festival Play
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The annual production of this play lasted several days as part of a religious festival. It included a mock water battle on the Nile and a funeral procession in which the audience participated.
tells the story of Set, the god of evil, who kills his brother Osiris, who is resurrected
and becomes King of the Dead, ruling over mortals who ascend to heaven.
The Abydos Passion Play
All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples.
Pyramid plays
The Heb Sed
Pyramid plays
The Coronation Festival Play
The Medicinal Play
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What common thread runs through all What common thread runs through all five types of Egyptian plays?five types of Egyptian plays?
Pyramid plays
The Heb Sed
Pyramid plays
The Coronation Festival Play
Pyramid plays
The Heb Sed
The Abydos Passion Play
Pyramid plays
The Coronation Festival Play
The Medicinal Play
Egyptian plays reflect their concern with life after death and their worship of pharaohs and the gods.
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Ancient Hebrew writings in the Old Testament mention dance and ritual and read much like drama…
…but there is no evidence that these writings were performed.
The Song of Solomon contains poetic dialogue spoken by a bride and groom.
The Book of Job is almost like a five-act drama with a prologue and epilogue.
www.galart.com/michel-levy/ cantique_det1_en.htm
www.math.toronto.edu/~drorbn/ Codes/Nations/main_gir.html
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Ancient Greeks held ceremonies to honor the gods
In one ceremony, to honor the god Dionysus, a group of chanters called a chorus danced around an altar upon which a goat was sacrificed.
These ceremonies evolved into dramatic contests
with written plays.
www.clevelandart.org/exhibcef/ mg/html/6269124.html
The members of the chorus were called the “goat singers” and their ritualistic chant was called the tragos or “goat song.”
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Who? Average citizens
What? Performances
When? c. 500 B.C.
Where? Greece
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Why ? ? ? ? To worship the godsGreeks worshipped their gods by
performing on religious holidays
One of these celebrations paid tribute to
Dionysus, God of Fertility,
Wine and Rebirth
homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/
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The Festival of Dionysus
Each year three playwrights were chosen to present
3 tragedies and 1 satyr play (comedy)
in the festival competition
The Festival was held in Athens, Greece each Spring
www.culture.fr/culture/arcnat/ vienne/en/theatre3.htm
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Drama
Tragedy
Comedy
The Language of Theatre
The word…comes from the Greek word(s)…
meaning…
dran “to do, to act”
tragos
seido
“goat”
“song”
komos
seido
“revel”
“song”
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The Greek Stage was in an Open Amphitheatre or Hillside
Full costumeFull costume No curtain No curtain No lighting effectsNo lighting effects No microphonesNo microphones As many as 15,000 people in audienceAs many as 15,000 people in audience
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Say what?? Who’s that??
To help the audience see and hear…
Only 2 or 3 actors were on stage at a time
Stages were designed to provide the best acoustics
Actors wore masks
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Masks
∞Gender ∞ Age ∞ Emotion ∞Personality ∞Social status
Some historians argue that the
masks were also designed to act as
megaphones to help carry voices of the
actors
These masks helped audiences see a
character’s…
www.temple.edu/classics/ dramadir.html
www.arlymasks.com/photo.htm
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The Greek Stage
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The Greek StageSkene—long, low building that served both as dressing room and conventional backdrop for action
Theatron—semicircular seating area surrounding three
sides of stage
Paradoi—side entrances or ramps onto the orchestra
Thymele— platform on which an altar was placed, usually at the center of the orchestra
Proskenion—raised platform in front of skene
Orchestra—main circular acting area
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Epidaurus: The best-preserved Greek theatre
The acoustics are so perfect that even a person sitting in the worst seat can hear a coin drop in the center of the performance area.
www.summer.ucla.edu/travel/ Hist-Greece/location.htm
On Friday and Saturday evenings in the summer, the theater fills with modern audiences who come to see performances of classic ancient Greek dramas.
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Mechane—simple crane used to swing characters from a trap door in the roof of the skene down onto the proskenion or orchestra. The earliest known use of the mechane was in the year 431.
Eccyclema—literally, “a wheeled out thing” used to roll out the effects of violence
Eccyclema aerial view and side view
Deaths were not permitted on stage.
Periaktoi—3-sided sets that revolved to change scenes
Stages had no wing space or fly space to store scenery.
Greek stage conventions and devices
Divinities were sometimes characters in plays.
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“Travel through time” to the beginnings of theatre
Construct a mask similar to the ones used in the ancient Greek theatre and present it to the class. Explain to the class the character’s personality, social position and age as symbolized in the mask. For simple one-dimensional masks, use posterboard and decorate with magic markers, yarn, etc. For three-dimensional masks, decorate a blank mask, or brown paper bag for two-sided masks.
Prepare a poster (22”x24”) which illustrates the major features of Egyptian or Greek theatre and present it to the class. Include at least seven accurate facts and three graphics.
Choose one of the following activities:
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Created by
Amy Pugh Patel
S.R. Butler High School
Huntsville, AL
6/18/03