Greek Theatre

*Other notes are on information worksheet.*

• Greek theatre is inextricably linked with ritualistic beliefs. Theatre originated from these rituals. 
• How do we figure out our lives? Myths. Understanding Gods and myths will help us deduce reasons to the meaning of life, nature of life etc. 
• Human beings are instinctively imitative (Aristotle, 4th century) 
• 1st definitive information of theatre (in the western world). Everything is very rooted in nature, the life cycle. Dionysus represented many of the world's unnatural events in life - have harmony with the forces to avoid destruction. 
• Dithyrambs - Aristotle wrote that this is where theatre emerged. Dithyrambs was an ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in honor of Dionysus. 
• Only 45 plays survive (32 tragedies, 12 comedies, 1 satyr play)
• Aeschylus first included and put emphasis on the second actor - face to face interaction. He was always concerned with the relationship between the Gods and the mortals. 
• Sophocles - credited with writing over a hundred plays, but only seven survive. He introduced the third actor. He was concerned with human relationships. 
• Euripides wrote 92 plays, only 17 survived. Not necessarily famous during his day. Interest was philosophical and psychological; he was skeptical about myth and religion.