1. Ancient Greek Theatre

1. When were ancient Greek plays performed? 

Ancient Greek theatre originated in 700BC in the city state of Athens. A hotspot for cultural, political, and military power. Greek plays were performed in theatre spaces called amphitheatres.

2. How many years ago was this?

Greek theatre originated in 700BC, a mere 2725 years ago.

3. What different types of plays were performed?

 The three genres were comedy, satyr plays, and most important of all, tragedy. The first comedies were mainly satirical and mocked men in power for their vanity and foolishness. Tragedy dealt with the big themes of love, loss, pride, the abuse of power and the fraught relationships between men and gods. Satyr plays were performed between the acts of tragedies and made fun of the plight of the tragedy’s characters. The satyrs were mythical half-human, half goat figures and actors these plays wore large phalluses for comic effect.

4. What is a traditional Greek Theatre called?

A traditional Greek theatre is called an amphitheatre.

5. What shape was the theatre?

The design of an amphitheatre was cutting edge for its time. It had raised seating, so that everybody had a clear view of the actors. The shape allowed for your voice to be carried upwards towards the back of the theatre, making the actors audible. Its shape is similar to that of a funnel.

6. Find a picture of a traditional Greek Theatre for your blog.

7. Why were the theatres built this way?

The theatre was built because of its cutting-edge acoustics. It was built this way to help project the actors voices upwards towards the back of the theatre so that all of the audience could hear the performers.

8. What different scenic elements are there?

The scenery was in open space so you could perhaps see a lot of woodland or the city around you. As for the actual performance space, the scenery was very bland.

9. Who sat on the seats at the front?

The front seats are reserved for the priests. The seat of honour was reserved for the high priest of Dionysus.

10. Could women take part in, or attend the plays?

Women were not allowed to take part or could attend the plays.

11. Name some of the Greek playwrights and their plays.

The Oedipus by Sophocles

The Oresteia by Aeschylus

Medea by Euripedes.

12. What did the audience throw at the actors who performed badly?

They used to throw rotten vegetables at the actors if there was a bad performance and stomp their feet to applaud the actors.

13. What did the actors wear?

The actors wore masks and if they were a female character, the male actor donned a wooden structure to imitate the shape of a woman.

14. How did the audience sat at the back of the large theatre hear anything?

The shape allowed for your voice to be carried upwards towards the back of the theatre, making the actors audible. Its shape is similar to that of a funnel.

15. Who is Dionysus?

Dionysus is the God of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness, fertility, theatre and religious ecstasy in Greek mythology.

16. Why is he important to Greek Theatre?

Dionysus is the Greek God of theatre. He is the opposite of Apollo. He provides

17. What is a Greek chorus? 

The Chorus of ancient Greek tragedy was traditionally made up of twelve performers who would dance, sing and act in unison.

18.  What purpose do the Chorus have in the performance? 

The Chorus of ancient Greek tragedy was traditionally made up of twelve performers who would dance, sing and act in unison.

19. How and why were masks used?

Masks were an important part of how ancient theatre looked and was produced. Working with masks changes how actors move and speak, and can create powerful theatrical effects, even on the modern stage. Ancient Greeks used the chorus like directors use lighting, sound and set design. The chorus enhanced and shaped the audience’s understanding of the play and its themes.

20. What were the masks made of? 

The masks were most likely made out of light weight, organic materials like stiffened linen, leather, wood or cork.

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1. What do we mean by the phrase 'multimedia in performance'?

Multimedia in performance means when the use of technology is incorporated into theatre. 

2. Give some examples different types of media that could be used in a performance. Give some examples of how they could be used and the positive and negative of them.

An example of multimedia that could be used in a performance is telephones, televisions and projectors. There are many positives to multimedia. One of which is that it can enhance the story telling of the piece and that a modern audience are more engaged through technology. Although one of the possible flaws is that it can restrict the amount of live theatre that is actually performed as the cast may become dependant on the technology.

TYPE OF MEDIA	EXAMPLE OF USE IN PERFORMANCE	POSITIVES OF USING IT…	NEGATIVES OF USING IT…
VIDEO CAMERA	Live feed	You can be in two locations at once.	Very technical and you can spend most of the performance organising cables.
Projector	projected images	You can have more people see the video	Cables. Takes up space.
Mobile phone	Phone light	you can illuminate the room without the cost of lighting equipment.	Takes a fair bit of time turning the light on and console piece down.

3. Try to think of show you have seen at the theatre that has used multimedia. (If you saw Summerfolk as part of Common Ground then you could write about this...) 
What type of multimedia was used? Did it enhance the performance? How and why?

I recently was lucky enough to have seen the West End production of 'The Curious Incident of then Dog in the Night-time'. The show had various multimedia throughout. One of the specific parts of the play I liked was when the main character described floating through space whilst the ensemble lifted him. There was a projected image of stars all over the walls. This made the scene more believable and exciting. It also made it more moving as you could actually see what the main character was talking about.

4. Find some photos of how multimedia can be used in performance.

1. Find a family tree picture of Antigone's family online...

What do you think of this story?

I love this story as its themes are universal and relevant to a modern audience today. The characters and their situations are thrilling and leave you on edge all the time. I like that in a play. When the audience can't contain themselves at how much they get excited watching a performance.

Why do you think Sophocles wrote this play?

I think he wrote the play to tell the people of Greece about the balance of Dionysos and Apollnian views. An I think it was written as a new way of entertaining the masses and keeping the people happy.

Why do you think the Greek audiences might have wanted to see this play?

I think they would've liked to escape from the horrors of the world around them. To be able to socialise and enjoy life with the people.

1. What information does Antigone give to Ismene at the beginning of this scene?

That Creon will not allow the burial of their brother Ploynices.

2.What has just happened in the sisters’ family?

Their brother, Polynices. has died. He has been labelled a traitor by the state. 

3.What does Antigone plan to do? Why?

Antigone plans to bury her brother as she sees it rightful for him to be buried.
4.Does Ismene plan to join her? Why or why not?

Ismene doesn't plan to join her as she follows the way of the Gods, which is conflicting with Antigone's views and the states'.