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The birth of Theatre

The birth of Theatre. Storytelling, Egypt, the Bible and the Greek stage. Ancient Storytelling.

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The birth of Theatre

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  1. The birth of Theatre Storytelling, Egypt, the Bible and the Greek stage

  2. 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.

  3. In time, people probably began acting out stories of hunts or religious events. The earliest record of a theatrical performance was in Egypt over 4000 years ago. www.dearauntnettie.com/gallery/ museum-zerotolerance.htm

  4. All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples. Pyramid plays 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.

  5. All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples. Pyramid plays The Coronation Festival Play was performed at the crowning of a new pharaoh.

  6. All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples. Pyramid plays The Coronation Festival Play also known as the Coronation Jubilee play,enacted events of the pharaoh’s reign during his thirtieth year on the throne. The Heb Sed

  7. All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples. Pyramid plays Pyramid plays The Coronation Festival Play The Heb Sed The Medicinal Play told the story of magical healing from the goddess Isis.

  8. All five types of Egyptian plays are serious, and all were performed in special tombs or in temples. Pyramid plays Pyramid plays The Coronation Festival Play The Heb Sed The Medicinal Play The Abydos Passion Play 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 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.

  9. Pyramid plays Pyramid plays Pyramid plays Pyramid plays The Coronation Festival Play The Coronation Festival Play The Heb Sed The Heb Sed The Medicinal Play The Abydos Passion Play What common thread runs through all five types of Egyptian plays? Egyptian plays reflect their concern with life after death and their worship of pharaohs and the gods.

  10. Ancient Hebrew writings in the Old Testament mention dance and ritual and read much like drama… 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 The Song of Solomon contains poetic dialogue spoken by a bride and groom. www.math.toronto.edu/~drorbn/ Codes/Nations/main_gir.html …but there is no evidence that these writings were performed.

  11. 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. 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.” These ceremonies evolved into dramatic contests with written plays.

  12. Who? Average citizens • What? Performances • When? c. 500 B.C. • Where? Greece

  13. Why ? ? ? ? To worship the gods Greeks 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/

  14. 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

  15. The Language of Theatre comes from the Greek word(s)… meaning… The word… dran “to do, to act” Drama Tragedy tragos seido “goat” “song” Comedy komos seido “revel” “song”

  16. The Greek Stage was in an Open Amphitheatre or Hillside • Full costume • No curtain • No lighting effects • No microphones • As many as 15,000 people in audience

  17. 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 Say what?? Who’s that??

  18. Masks These masks helped audiences see a character’s… ∞Gender ∞ Age ∞ Emotion ∞Personality ∞Social status www.arlymasks.com/photo.htm Some historians argue that the masks were also designed to act as megaphones to help carry voices of the actors www.temple.edu/classics/ dramadir.html

  19. The Greek Stage

  20. The Greek Stage Proskenion—raised platform in front of skene Orchestra—main circular acting area Thymele— platform on which an altar was placed, usually at the center of the orchestra Paradoi—side entrances or ramps onto the orchestra Skene—long, low building that served both as dressing room and conventional backdrop for action Theatron—semicircular seating area surrounding three sides of stage

  21. 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. On Friday and Saturday evenings in the summer, the theater fills with modern audiences who come to see performances of classic ancient Greek dramas. www.summer.ucla.edu/travel/ Hist-Greece/location.htm

  22. Stages had no wing space or fly space to store scenery. Periaktoi—3-sided sets that revolved to change scenes Greek stage conventions and devices Divinities were sometimes characters in plays. 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. Deaths were not permitted on stage. Eccyclema—literally, “a wheeled out thing” used to roll out the effects of violence Eccyclema aerial view and side view

  23. “Travel through time” to the beginnings of theatre Choose one of the following activities: 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.

  24. Created by Amy Pugh Patel S.R. Butler High School Huntsville, AL 6/18/03

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