When you think of ancient Greece, the Parthenon or togas and sandals may come to mind. Ancient Greece also had a large appreciation of theater, which was very popular at the time. The origins of Greek theater date back thousands of years. The main plays of the Greek theater were held outdoors in an arena that was very large and open. The arena was usually built into a hillside to provide naturally rising seats for those in attendance. The seats faced a central area called the orchestra, where the main performances were held. Behind the orchestra was an area called the skene, where costumes and masks were stored and actors changed clothes. The skene was similar to a modern day dressing room for the actors. Theaters were sometimes wooden, but mostly they were made of stone and many remains can still be seen today. Theaters were made to hold large crowds, and many times 15,000 people or more would attend the plays.
Staging Greek Drama
Construction of Greek Theaters
Structure of the Greek Theater
The actors in Greek theater were always men, who played both male and female roles. In fact, most of the time women were not even allowed to attend or see the plays at all. Because the characters were all played by men, the actors wore masks to change which character they were playing or what expression they had for that particular scene. The masks were usually exaggerated facial expressions, and were typically made out of linen or terracotta. Masks also served the purpose of a megaphone, as their shape projected the words of the actor to the large arena.
Depictions of Greek Theater on Vases
The Conventions of Greek Theater
Costumes and Dress of Greek Women
Actors also wore costumes to portray different characters and show if they were male or female. The costumes also helped identify to the audience what mood or disposition the character may have been in for that particular scene. Many costumes were made of long, linen robes. Depending on which character the actor was portraying, they would sometimes wear tall wooden shoes to denote height, as well as padding on the chest or stomach to differentiate male or female characters.
In the same way that we like to see movies and productions today, the ancient Greeks enjoyed seeing plays at the theater. It was a celebrated event that was used for both religion and entertainment, and people enjoyed many types of productions, comedies, and dramas. The arenas, costumes, and performances that went on had a lasting quality because their stories and the ruins of theaters are still in evidence today.
Books and DVDs of ancient Greek dramas and plays:
Written by Michael S. Atwood