March 27 : World Theater Day & Dionysos

On World Theater Day, what else can we talk about but Greek Theater, the start of everything, the origin of Theater that evolved into modern cinema and tv. Greek theater began in the 6th century BCE in Athens, where it was part of a religious festival honoring the god Dionysus, who was associated with wine, fertility, and ecstasy.

Greek theater was performed in open-air theaters that had a circular orchestra, where the chorus and actors performed, and a semi-circular seating area, where the audience watched. The theaters could accommodate thousands of spectators and plays were accompanied by music and dance, and often involved elaborate stage effects, such as machines, props, and costumes.

Greek theater had a lasting impact on the development of Western drama and literature, as it influenced the genres, themes, characters, and techniques of later playwrights, such as Shakespeare, Racine, Molière, and Brecht. Greek theater also reflected the values, beliefs, and issues of ancient Greek society and culture, and thus provides us with a valuable source of historical and artistic information.

Greek Theater

The first genre of Greek theater was tragedy, which depicted the suffering and downfall of noble heroes who faced moral dilemmas or divine curses. The earliest known tragedian was Thespis, who is also credited with introducing the first actor who interacted with the chorus.

The most famous tragedians were Aeschylus (the Father of Tragedy), Sophocles, and Euripides, who wrote plays that explored themes such as justice, fate, free will, family, love, war, and politics. Some of their masterpieces include The Oresteia by Aeschylus, Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles, and Medea and The Bacchae by Euripides.

The second genre of Greek theater was comedy, which mocked the follies and vices of individuals, society, and politics. The most famous comedian was Aristophanes (the Father of Comedy), who wrote plays that satirized the contemporary issues of his time, such as the Peloponnesian War, the corruption of democracy, the role of women, and the influence of philosophers. Some of his works include The Clouds, The Birds, Lysistrata, and The Frogs.

The third genre of Greek theater was the satyr play, which was a short and humorous piece that followed a tragedy. It featured a chorus of satyrs, who were half-man and half-goat creatures that served Dionysus. The satyr play was intended to provide comic relief and contrast to the serious tone of the tragedy. The only complete surviving satyr play is The Cyclops by Euripides, which is based on the episode of Odysseus and the one-eyed giant in Homer’s Odyssey.

The architecture of ancient Greek theater has continued to inspire the design of theaters today. The open-air theater (theatron) had wonderful acoustics and was seemingly open to all of the male populace (the presence of women is contested). From the mid-5th century BCE, entrance was free. The plot of a tragedy was almost always inspired by episodes from Greek mythology, which were often a part of Greek religion. As a consequence of this serious subject matter, which often dealt with moral right and wrongs and tragic no-win dilemmas, violence was not permitted on the stage, and the death of a character had to be heard from offstage and not seen. Similarly, at least in the early stages of the genre, the poet could not make comments or political statements through his play. Due to the restricted number of actors, each performer had to take on multiple roles where the use of masks, costumes, voice, and gesture became extremely important. The early tragedies had only one actor who would perform in costume and wear a mask, allowing him to impersonate gods.

Greek Tragedians

The three major tragedians of the time were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. While all three playwrights made significant contributions to Greek theater, Sophocles is often considered the most famous due to his enduring popularity and influence on later playwrights. However, Aeschylus and Euripides are also highly regarded for their groundbreaking work and unique styles.

Aeschylus was the first of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece. He is often described as the father of tragedy and is credited with introducing the second actor to the stage. His most famous works include “The Persians,” “Seven Against Thebes,” and “The Oresteia,” a trilogy comprising “Agamemnon,” “The Libation Bearers,” and “The Eumenides”.

Sophocles was the second of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece. He is best known for his Theban plays, or Oedipus cycle, which includes “Antigone,” “Oedipus Rex,” and “Oedipus at Colonus.” Sophocles is also credited with introducing the third actor to the stage, which allowed for more complex plots and character development.

Euripides was the last of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece. He is known for his innovative and often controversial plays, which challenged traditional Greek values and beliefs. His most famous works include “Medea,” “The Trojan Women,” and “The Bacchae”.

Aristophanes : The Father of Comedy

Aristophanes was a prolific and much-acclaimed comic playwright of ancient Greece, referred to as the Father of Comedy. He was born in Athens around 450 BCE and began his dramatic career in 427 BCE with a play called “The Banqueters”. He is thought to have written about 40 plays in all, of which 11 survive, including “The Clouds,” “The Wasps,” “The Birds,” “Lysistrata,” and “The Frogs”.

Aristophanes is the only extant representative of the Old Comedy, which was characterized by bold fantasy, merciless invective, outrageous satire, unabashedly licentious humor, and a marked freedom of political criticism. His plays often displayed his own imminent feelings for audiences to see, that is if the audience could actually understand what he was displaying. He was a man of Athens, one who was disappointed by its state and loved what it originally stood for but could not put into action.

Aristophanes’ work was concerned with the social, literary, and philosophical life of Athens itself and with themes provoked by the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE). He was known for his innovative and often controversial plays, which challenged traditional Greek values and beliefs. His plays were a reflection of the political and social climate of Athens at the time, and he used his platform to criticize the Athenian government and society.

Aristophanes’ contributions to theater were significant. He was a master of satire and used his plays to comment on contemporary issues and to poke fun at the establishment. He was also a pioneer of the use of parody and burlesque in comedy, which would later become a staple of the genre. His plays were hugely popular in his time and continue to be performed and studied around the world today.

Greek theater has had a profound impact on the history of theater and continues to influence the art form today. The contributions of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides have been immeasurable, and their works continue to be performed and studied around the world. The enduring popularity of Greek theater is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring appeal of the human experience.

Below you can find books about the history of Theater that you will find interesting. Further below are videos about the history of Theater. We also have a full crash course available on the page of Dionysos about the history of theater or you can also view our page that highlights the most important Greek plays. The British National Theater has a video collection of Greek theater you might also enjoy.