Greek theatre started over 2,500 years ago and laid the foundation for most of Western theater. It originated in Athens during religious festivals dedicated to the god Dionysus consisting of 2 main genres: tragedy and comedy. Greek tragedies were full of fate, morality, and Greek gods’ relationship with humans. The plays had characters facing impossible choices and normal dilemmas, especially in works like Oedipus Rex and Medea. Greek comedies were the opposite, being more lighthearted and using satire. Aristophanes was the most well-known comedic playwright of his time, and he used humor to critique Athenian society. His plays used witty commentary to get his point across, which appealed heavily to the public.
Greek theatre was performed in large open-air amphitheaters where citizens would gather to watch. The chorus, the group of actors who sang and danced, would also act as narrators. Masks were also a key part of Greek performances, because they allowed the actors to play multiple roles and added a uniqueness to them.
Even though ancient Greek theatre was many years ago, it had a monumental impact on today’s theater. The entire basis of today’s theater came from the storytelling, chorus, and dramatic structure of Greek theater. Greek plays are still performed worldwide, and it shows the timelessness of theater through history.
Sources:
https://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/24a_p1.html
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