Mime is an ancient art form that originated from the gestures of early humans. It developed in ancient Greece where performers enacted scenes using gestures in the Theatre of Dionysus. The Romans adopted the Greek art of mime and took it to Italy. Famous mimes include Marcel Marceau and Charlie Chaplin, who used exaggerated movements and emotions to entertain audiences. Mime has been influenced by various social, technological, historical, and economic factors over time. It has evolved from a form of religious performance in ancient Greece to a source of fame and income today.

1. MIME
Moushomi Hanif

2. What is mime??
Professional mime teacher: Stuart Luis

3. History of mime…
www.mimethegap.com
Mime is considered one of the earliest mediums of self-expression. From
the very early beginnings of primitive man before speech, cave men
mimed the actions and movements of the world around them. Gestures
were developed and by body posture that developed into the most
simplest forms of communication. This most fundamental way of learning
is still the basis of how babies discover their world today, through
imitation. Instead of fading into nothing when the spoken language was
developed, mime had became a form of entertainment. It then developed
into a true theatrical form in ancient Greece, where performers enacted
everyday scenes with the help of elaborate gestures.

4. Ancient Greeks &
roman…
It all began in the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, Greece. Ancient Greek
Masked actors performed mime outdoors, in daylight at festivals everyday
in honour of Dionysus, the God of theatre. They usually performed of
dramatic character-centred mimes called ‘hypotheses’ in front of
thousands of people in the theatre.
The comedy and tragedy, developed in Athens, have influenced nearly all
Western drama, starting with that of the Romans. When the Romans
conquered Greece, they brought Greek art of mime back to Italy and set
about making it their own.
The Roman soon took over the existing theatres in Greece and began
rebuilding them for their own spectacles, which included everything from
pantomime to mock- naval battles. The remains of the Theatre of Dionysus
which we can see in Athens today date to Roman times and not the fifth
century BC.
www.mime.info

5. Ancient Greek theatre
Ancient Greek theatre such as Theatre of Dionysus in Athens has a different
structure to theatres today. The core of any Greek theatre is the orchestra and
behind it is the main stage where the actors perform whereas modern theatres
the stage is at the front and the orchestra is at the bottom and not visible.

6. Commedia dell’ arte
Mime continued to entertain through the Middle Ages, in sixteenth century
Italy, in the form of Commedia dell‘ Arte.
Commedia dell‘ Arte originated in the market places of the Italian streets in the
early 1500's. Street performers began donning masks with exaggerated comical
features to draw attention to themselves.
Professional mime artist: Stuart Luis

7. Marcel Marceau

8. Marcel Marceau
Marcel Marceau was born in Strasbourg, France (22nd March 1923 –
22nd September 2007). Marceau's interest in the art of mime began at
an early age when he would imitate with gestures anything that fired
his imagination.
Later he discovered such silent screen artists as Charlie Chaplin, Buster
Keaton, Harry Langdon, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, and his admiration
for these great actors inspired him to pursue the art of silence as a
profession.
www.mime.info

9. Charlie
Chaplin

10. Charlie Chaplin
Universally acclaimed as the world's greatest silent comedy actor,
Charlie Chaplin was born 16th April 1889 but died on the 25th December
1977. He was best known for his character, the naïve but lovable tramp.
His character costume is a suit with the trousers that is too big for him
and the waist coat too small and he carries a cane around with him.
Chaplin was born in England and them toured in America and stayed
there filming in the early 19th century television was really basic. As it
was difficult to make things funny on T.V. back then, Charlie used bold,
wired movement and exaggerated emotions so people understand and
recognised what he was feeling.
Professional mime teacher: Stuart Luis

11. faCtors…
That effect mime

12. Social factors
People perform and entertain to become famous and to entertain
everyone whereas before for example in the Greeks times they
performed to have fun. Mime has become part of cultural identity of
some regions like France and are main feature in many festivals.
Technological Factors
Technology has had a big impact on mime. In the olden times, before
technology was invented, performers performed outdoors in the
daylight because there was no lighting like today. Also the theatre in the
Greek times, was built in a way that the audience will be able to hear
the show whereas now they have microphone to project their voice and
we have lightings so we could perform indoors and late at night hours.

13. Historical factors
Today, performance are based on anything from very childish shows, to
very serious shows. In the historical times example Tudor England,
acting and drama was very popular because Queen Elizabeth loved
watching plays therefore there was competitions between troupes to
see who came up with the better performances for the queen.
Economic factors
Today when performing, performers are likely to receive money and
fame. Back in the very olden days performing was about entertainment
and in the Greeks they performed in honour of Dionysus, God of
Theatre.

14. Thank you for watching