10 Interesting Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre


The greek theatre always played in the religious festivals and it will be explained on Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre. The Greek theatre was held in the open areas and the shape of the stage was semi-circular. The aim was to make the audience could watch and hear well. Besides, the stage could accomodate more than 18,000 spectators. Here are ten interesting facts about ancient Greek theatre.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 1: The actors

There were no women on the theatre, only men who played the Greek theatre. They used masks with the large mouth-holes. The function of the hole was to make the voice of the actors louder. Besides, there were dancers and singers (chorus) who played in the theatre.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 2: The Greek plays

Comedies and tragedies were the Greek plays. The actors who wore bright colours symbolized comedian and dark colours mean tragedies. The comedies show the funny story and tragedies usually show the sad and serious story with the moral value.

Ancient Greek Theatre
Ancient Greek Theatre

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 3: Drama festivals

In Ancient Greek, The City Dionysia (tragedy) and The Lenaea (comedy) were the title of drama festivals were held every year.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 4: The parados

The passageways between seating area and orchestra was called the parados. It used by audience, chorus, and actors as entrances and exits the theatre.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 5: The structure of a Greek Tragedy

Myth and stories in the past were used as tragedies plays. In the beginning, the actors speech about the characters and setting of the play on the theatre. As we know that only men who played the theatre. Because of that, men also played the women’s parts.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 6: The structure of a Greek Comedy

The parados was the first part of the comedy. Unique and crazy costumes were used by the chorus. The second parts was the agon, the main actors debate with funny topic and sometimes doing some improvisation. The parabasis was the third part of the comedy. It was the time when the chorus and the audience spoke directly.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 7: The Greek Theatre

Theatron was theatre buildings. There were three main elements of Greek theatre, including the skene, the audience, and the orchestra. The location of the theatres usually on hillsides, open air, and large. The audience sat on the stone chair.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 8: The Orchestra

The Orchestra was a large area at the centre of the theatre and it was used to dance, acting, and rites.

The Orchestra
The Orchestra

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 9: The skene

The skene was used as a backstage or the actors changed their costume and masks. In the past, skene was a kind of hut. However, it became permament structure now. They usually painted the walls of the skene to make backdrops.

Facts about Ancient Greek Theatre 10: The masks

Costumes and masks were used in the theatre. Linen or cork were the materials to make maks. There were various of masks such as tragic masks, happy masks, sad masks, etc.

The masks
The Masks

 

We have talked facts about ancient Greek theatre. Do you know other facts about ancient Greek theatre?

 


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