The birth of Theatre

Storytelling, Egypt, the Bible and the Greek

stage

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.

The earliest The earliest record of a record of a theatrical theatrical performance performance was in Egypt was in Egypt over 4000 over 4000 years ago. years ago.

www.dearauntnettie.com/gallery/ museum-zerotolerance.htm

In time, people probably began acting out stories In time, people probably began acting out stories of hunts or religious events.of hunts or religious events.

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

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.

Pyramid plays

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

was performed at the crowning of a new pharaoh.

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.

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

Pyramid plays

The Coronation Festival Play

The Heb Sed

told the story of magical healing from the goddess Isis.

The Medicinal Play

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

Pyramid plays

The Heb Sed

Pyramid plays

The Coronation Festival Play

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.

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 Abydos Passion Play

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

Pyramid plays

The Heb Sed

Pyramid plays

The Coronation Festival Play

The Medicinal Play

What common thread runs through all What common thread runs through all five types of Egyptian plays?five types of Egyptian plays?

Pyramid plays

The Heb Sed

Pyramid plays

The Coronation Festival Play

Pyramid plays

The Heb Sed

The Abydos Passion Play

Pyramid plays

The Coronation Festival Play

The Medicinal Play

Egyptian plays reflect their concern with life after death and their worship of pharaohs and the gods.

Ancient Hebrew writings in the Old Testament mention dance and ritual and read much like drama…

…but there is no evidence that these writings were performed.

The Song of Solomon contains poetic dialogue spoken by a bride and groom.

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

www.math.toronto.edu/~drorbn/ Codes/Nations/main_gir.html

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.

These ceremonies evolved into dramatic contests

with written plays.

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.”

Who? Average citizens

What? Performances

When? c. 500 B.C.

Where? Greece

Why ? ? ? ? To worship the godsGreeks 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/

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

Drama

Tragedy

Comedy

The Language of Theatre

The word…comes from the Greek word(s)…

meaning…

dran “to do, to act”

tragos

seido

“goat”

“song”

komos

seido

“revel”

“song”

The Greek Stage was in an Open Amphitheatre or Hillside

Full costumeFull costume No curtain No curtain No lighting effectsNo lighting effects No microphonesNo microphones As many as 15,000 people in audienceAs many as 15,000 people in audience

Say what?? Who’s that??

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

Masks

∞Gender ∞ Age ∞ Emotion ∞Personality ∞Social status

Some historians argue that the

masks were also designed to act as

megaphones to help carry voices of the

actors

These masks helped audiences see a

character’s…

www.temple.edu/classics/ dramadir.html

www.arlymasks.com/photo.htm

The Greek Stage

The Greek StageSkene—long, low building that served both as dressing room and conventional backdrop for action

Theatron—semicircular seating area surrounding three

sides of stage

Paradoi—side entrances or ramps onto the orchestra

Thymele— platform on which an altar was placed, usually at the center of the orchestra

Proskenion—raised platform in front of skene

Orchestra—main circular acting area

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.

www.summer.ucla.edu/travel/ Hist-Greece/location.htm

On Friday and Saturday evenings in the summer, the theater fills with modern audiences who come to see performances of classic ancient Greek dramas.

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.

Eccyclema—literally, “a wheeled out thing” used to roll out the effects of violence

Eccyclema aerial view and side view

Deaths were not permitted on stage.

Periaktoi—3-sided sets that revolved to change scenes

Stages had no wing space or fly space to store scenery.

Greek stage conventions and devices

Divinities were sometimes characters in plays.

“Travel through time” to the beginnings of theatre

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.

Choose one of the following activities:

Created by

Amy Pugh Patel

S.R. Butler High School

Huntsville, AL

6/18/03