Theatre is considered as one of the oldest forms of art and literature. Since we have been working with modern visual art which is known as digital image processing we cherish an inner bondage with its origin. When there was no camera for capturing the performance the artists were more competent to stage the drama or play to entertain the audience. Clipping Mask Asia is not only busy with Photoshop clipping path or drop shadow service, it has also a great passion for different branches like theatre. The presentation will convey a deal about the ancient Greek theatre which is considered as the birth place of great Greek Tragedies. Now visual art is not only for entertainment but also for commercial purpose like selling products and goods. If you need to know anything more about old art form please contact us at http://www.clippingmaskasia.com/

1. GREEK THEATRE
THE BIRTHPLACE OF
WESTERN DRAMA

2. FESTIVALS OF
DIONYSUS
In honor of the god of Wine and
Fertility
Early worship involved orgies and
drunkeness
Myths relate to seasonal growing
cycles and passions of Man
Purpose of worship was
inducement of fertility
8th-7th Century B.C.--contests of
choral dancing held at many
festivals ; “dithyrambs”

3. DITHYRAMB
“Ecstatic Hymn”
A RELIGIOUS CHANT OR SONG
PERFORMED IN RYTHYM AND
WITH DANCING

4. First Definite Record of Drama
in Greece: 534 B.C.
“City Dionysia” (late
March) reorganized
Contest for Best Tragedy
instituted
Winner of first contest is
Thespis, who also acted in
the performance
Actors today are known as
“Thespians”, in honor of
the first known Greek actor.

5. “HYPOKRITE”
GREEK WORD FOR ACTOR,
MEANS “WEARER OF MASKS”

6. “CHORAGUS”
A wealthy patron, wishing to honor the
gods, pays for the cost of a production
Precursor to the “Producer”

7. GREEK THEATRE
STRUCTURES
“Amphitheatres”
Built onto hillsides
Originally temporary
wooden structures,
later made of stone
Were considered a
form of temple
Some held up to
20,000 spectators

8. Parts of a Greek Theatre
ORKESTRA: circular
acting space at center,
translates as “dancing
place”
THYMELE: Altar stone at
center of orkestra
TEATRON: Spectator
seating; “seeing place”
SKENE: Stage building
behind orkestra; where we
get the words “scene” and
“scenery”

9. Parts of a Greek Theatre
PARADOS/PARADOI: entry
ramps for the chorus between
the Teatron and Skene; where
we get the word “parade”
PERIAKTOI: Three-sided
turnable column used as a
scenic device, placed in space
between columns of skene
MACHINA: Crane-like device
used to suspend celestial figures
above the action; “deus ex
machina” means “god from the
machine”

10. SKENE
STAGE HOUSE:
provides scenic
background, a place to
change costumes,
place to exit
Had one to three doors
May have been raised
up off ground level
Developed a second
story in later years

11. Side View: Orkestra and Teatron

12. Orkestra with Thymele, Skene

13. Teatron

14. AUDITORIUM
“The Hearing Place”
Includes Orkestra and Teatron

15. Seating for the Priests

16. The Head Priest’s Chair

17. GREEK PLAYWRIGHTS
Only 5 playwrights and 45 plays survive
According to Aristotle, drama developed
out of improvisation by the leaders of the
dithyrambs
Early “plays”, such as those by Thespis,
were no more than a discourse between one
actor (“Protagonist”) and the chorus.
In later years, playwrights wrote 3
Tragedies and one Satyr Play for the
contests at the City Dionysia

18. AESCHYLUS: 525-456 B.C.
Tragic Playwright,
Introduced Second Actor,
“Deuteragonist”
Encouraged face-to-face
conflict between characters
reduced importance of
chorus, size from 50 to @15
Wrote AGAMEMMNON and
PROMETHEUS
BOUND

19. SOPHOCLES: 496-406 B.C.
Considered greatest Greek
dramatist, wrote tragedies
Created Third Actor
More concerned with
human relationships than
religious issues
Wrote OEDIPUS THE
KING and ANTIGONE

20. EURIPIDES: 480-406 B.C.
Last of great Greek
Tragic playwrights
Reduced chorus to
relatively unimportant
role
Treated Gods with lack
of awe
Wrote MEDEA and THE
TROJAN WOMEN

21. ARISTOPHANES: 450-385 B.C.
Comic Playwright,
“Old Comedy”,
discusses “happy idea”
Wrote LYSISTRATA,
an anti-war comedy

22. MENANDER: 342-292 B.C.
Comic playwright, “New Comedy”
More secular-based, often a comedy of
“manners”
Copied by the Romans, more like a
“sitcom”
Wrote ARBITRATION and
DYSCOLUS (“The Old Grouch”)

23. GREEK TRAGEDIES
General pattern developed by Aeschylus
PROLOGOS: establishes dramatic situation
PARODOS: Entrance of Chorus, “exposition”
EPEISODA: main action, equivalent of an “Act”
STASIMA: Choral interlude, makes comment on
the action in the Epeisoda
Climax occurs in last Epeisoda, so that last
Stasima allows final comment by the chorus
EXODOS: Final summation and exit of Chorus