Theatre – A Brief History

Theatre – A Brief History
Greece
 Theatre
 Amphitheatre
 Tragedy
 Drama
 Comedy
 Chorus
 Dialogue
 Scene
 Orchestra
 Deus ex machina
Dionysus
 Dionysus or Dionysos
(from the Ancient Greek
Διώνυσος or Διόνυσος),
 Intoxicating power of
wine and beneficial
influences.
 Promoter of civilization, a
law giver
 Lover of peace — as well
as the patron deity of
agriculture and the
theatre.
Thespis
 534 B.C.
 Thespian society
Subject matter and themes:
Mythology
Fate, free will, justice
Hubris
Tragic hero
Catharsis
Male dominated society
Greek theatres
Theatre of Dionysus, Athens
Other interesting tidbits:
Masks
Chorus
Dramatic competitions: 3 tragedies +
comedy
Golden Age of Athens:
– Aeschylus
– Euripides
Sophocles
 Antigone
 Oedipus Rex
 Electra
 The Theban Legend:
•
•
•
•
King Laius – Thebes
Queen Jocasta
King of Corinth
Sphinx
Medieval theatre:
Secular: non-religious: stand up comedians
Religious: tell Biblical stories to an
illiterate audience
Medieval theatre
 Pageants
 Mystery plays
Mystery cycles
guilds
 Morality plays
Medieval theatre
 Morality plays:
–
–
–
–
–
Old Vice
Virtue
Riches
Devil
Everyman
London
1520: 50,000
1600: 200,000
What you should definitely
remember so far:
What is the origin of theatre?
What feature and themes of Greek theatre
can be found in theatre of later ages?
Hubris, tragic hero, catharsis.
What forms of theatre existed during
medieval times?
Acts of Parliament:
 Henry breaks with
the Roman Catholic
church.
 Establishes Church of
England.
 Confiscates Catholic
property.
Medieval entertainment
 Bear and bull
baiting.
 Animal fights.
 Crime.
 Riots.
 Prostitution.
English Renaissance
1533 (1558) –1603
1566 (1603) - 1625
London
1520: 50,000
1600: 200,000
Inn yards
 Audience capacity up
to 500.
 Inexpensive.
London
Elizabethan Theater Locations
Map
http://www.williamshakespeare.info/elizabethantheatre-locations.htm
The Theatre 1576
 James Burbage
 Actor
 Entrepreneur.
The Curtain
Henry Laneham
The Rose 1587
 Philip Henslowe
 Southwark
 Lord Admiral’s Men
The Globe
Actors
 Will Kemp
 Gaging?
Actors:

Edward Alleyn
Richard Burbage
Lord Admiral’s Men
Lord Chamberlain’s Men
Things you should know
 How did Henry VIII decision to break with the
Catholic church affect the history of theatre?
 How did the establishment of the first purpose built
theatres influence the development of drama?
 How did the physical structure of the theatre influence
the development of drama?
 Explain the connection between printing practices and
variations in Shakespeare's texts.