Greek Theatre Research

1. When were ancient Greek plays performed? 

Greek plays were performed only during religious festivals. They took place in a public space, usually a half circle shaped outdoor theatre.

2. How many years ago was this?

2350 years ago - 50th century 

3. What different types of plays were performed?

there were three different types: comedy, satyr plats and tragedy 

4. What is a traditional Greek Theatre called?

Theatron

5. What shape was the theatre?

The theatres were large, open air structures constructed. They consisted of three main elements: the orchestra, the skene and the audience. The skene was a building behind the orchestra and was where the actors would change costume.

6. Find a picture of a traditional Greek Theatre for your blog.

7. Why were the theatres built this way?

They were built this way because the shape allowed sound to be transmitted well and the audience could see from any angle.

8. What different scenic elements are there?

mechane, a crane that gave the impression of a flying actor 

ekkyklêma, a wheeled platform often used to bring dead characters into view for the audience

trap doors, or similar openings in the ground to lift people onto the stage

Pinakes, pictures hung to create scenery

Thyromata, more complex pictures built into the second-level scene 

Phallic props were used for satyr plays, symbolizing fertility in honour of Dionysus.

9. Who sat on the seats at the front?

The front seats were reserved for the priests, especially the seat of honour which was reserved for the high priest of Dionysos

10. Could women take part in, or attend the plays?

Women couldn't take part in the play but could watch them

11. Name some of the Greek playwrights and their plays.

Aeschylus - born 525 BC

Plays: The Pecans 472 BC

          The Seven against Thebes 467 BC

Euripides - born 480 BC

Plays: Rhesus 450 BC

          Alcestis 483 BC

Aristophes - born 452 BC

Plays: The acharnians

          The knights

12. What did the audience throw at the actors who performed badly?

If the actors performed badly, the audience would throw rotten vegetables at them. However, if they were good they might throw money. They stomped their feet to applaud instead of using their hands to clap.

13. What did the actors wear?

Some costumes were made with specific occupations in mind, such as a priest or senator, while others were made to reinforce the grand gestures actors would have to make on stage, such as light, flowing robes to be worn by female characters. Because plays were never performed with more than three actors in ancient Greek plays, wardrobe changes helped identify the characters in the story. The actors also wore masks and boots.

14. How did the audience sat at the back of the large theatre hear anything?

The shape of the amphitheatre allowed sound to travel directly to every area of the audience and there was a stone wall at the back of the theatre allowing an echo to bounce back and the people at the back can hear.

15. Who is Dionysus? 

Dionysus had a strange birth that evokes the difficulty in fitting him into the Olympian pantheon. His mother was a mortal woman, Semele, and his father was Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus' wife, Hera, discovered the affair while Semele was pregnant.

16. Why is he important to Greek Theatre?

He supplied fun to the characters, allowing that balance between staying grounded and having fun or being happy.

17. What is a Greek chorus? 
The chorus of greek plays were made up of twelve people who dance, sing and act in unison.

18.  What purpose to the Chorus have in the performance? 
They used the chorus as the lighting, sound and setting. the chorus helped to shape the piece for the audience. 

19. How and why were masks used?
They enabled an actor to appear and reappear as several different characters without the audience identifying them as one specific character. Their variations help the audience to distinguish sex, age, and social status, in addition to revealing a change in a particular character’s appearance, ie. Oedipus after blinding himself. 

20. What were the masks made of? 
Usually masks were made of either wood, linen or leather.


TASK 3

Multi media performances are where plays on't just include actors but also incorporate technology into the piece. Such as film, photography and different styles of acting. For example, whilst someone is performing, there could be a film playing in the background; or different photographs pop up of the actors.

A show i saw which used multi media was called Girls Like That. Before the actors got on stage they projected images onto the stage floor. These were different social media apps such as twitter, whatsapp and instagram. The notifications on these apps kept going up aswell. It enhanced the performance because it showed how glued we are to the screen. They also had a collage in the background. It was small images of peoples selfies which were stuck together to create the image of one girl. This was very effective because it showed how loads of different people on social media can have an effect, whether aware or not, on someones life. Also, if they were sending a text, you would be able to see it on the floor as it was being projected. Not only did it help us read and understand what she was saying, but it reinforced the fact that our lives were centered around phones. Also that people are completely different in real life to how they are on social media. 

TASK 4

what do you think of the story?

I quite like the story, i think it shows good values however i do think there was a lot of death. Because of this it can come across almost comedic just because everyone dies but i do like how it shows that family should be put first. 

why do you think sophocles wrote this play?

I think he wrote this story to show how you should always put your family first. Although the king is new and doesnt want to give himself a bad reputation to the public by bending the rules for his family, he needed to remember that his family is more important than his reputation. The story shows how if you dont care for one person, it can have a fatal effect on other peoples lives. 

why do you think the greek audience might have wanted to see this play?

Greek plays all displayed morals and because this plays moral was shown strongly throughout, it would have attracted greek audiences.

What information does Antigone give to Ismene at the beginning of this scene?
Antigone tells Ismene that Creon has decided to honour one of their brothers, and leave the other unburied. Even though they both died in battle, because Polynicies had fought against his own people, he was not to get buried. She also inform him that anyone who tries to bury Polynicies will be killed.

What has just happened in the sisters' family?
Oedipus left Thebes when he found out he killed his father and married his own mother. When he left, he put his two sons on the throne. Every year they were to swap role so that both could be king, however one year, Etocles refused to give up his thrown when it was Polynicies turn to be king. For this reason, Polynicies put together an army and attacked Thebes. Both brothers were killed in battle.

What does Antigone plan to do? why?
Antigone wants to bury Polynicies because she feels both brothers should be equally treated. She believes that leaving the dead unburied offends the Gods and it is her duty to do what is right.

Does Ismene plan to join her? why or why not?
Iceman does not join her in fear of being killed by Creon as they would have gone against him. She knows what Antigone is doing is right but she doesn't believe it is worth the risk.

What story does the chorus tell us about?
The chorus tells us the story of the battle where The Argive army ordered an attack on Thebes during the night.