About Greek Theatre

Beginning over 2000 years ago in Athens, Greek Theatre consisted of Comedy, Tragedy, and Satyr, featuring masks, prologues and chorus to tell stories which still resonate today.

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Over 30 original Greek play texts still exist today, with hundreds of adaptations created over the centuries.

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Originally performed as part of the festival of Dionysos, plays were inspired by Greek mythology, which explored the human condition and comment on society.

 

Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripedes were the three great tragedians, and one major comic writer, Aristophanes, all of whom were Athenian citizens writing in the 5th Century BC.

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Traditional Greek theatre was performed in open air theatres, often carved into the hillside. The National Theatre's Olivier Theatre, was modelled on an early Greek theatre, so is a good example of the Greek theatre style of theatre space in modern theatre.

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Masks were used because theatre was a part of a religious ritual. They were the 'mask of the reveller' to Dionysos. They also helped actors change characters.

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The chorus was often 12 singing, dancing men performing together, like a modern day ensemble in a musical. They would represent the community of society, commenting on the action of the play.