Greek Theatre Research Paper

THEATRE HISTORY TIMELINE
Dates / Period 600BC-600AD CLASSICAL Key Styles Greek Theatre Development of the classical genres of Comedy and Tragedy. The philosopher Aristotle established the classical rules of tragedy (unities of time, place and action). Aristotle identified the central purpose of theatre ± to arouse strong emotions in its audience (catharsis). Greek Tragedies were often based on explorations of conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist. Masks were used for characters. A group of narrators called the Chorus would tell the story, comment on the actions taken by the protagonist as well as engage in dialogue. Tragedies were in five acts. Plays were written within a closed structure. Aristotle considered Comedy to be inferior
Used caricature half-masks for middle-class and servant characters. Hero and Heroine were unmasked. Stock Characters were placed in stock situations (scenarios). Ensemble playing allowed for free improvisation around the roles & situations. Depicted clashes between Masters & Servants. Used physical humour known as Slapstick or Lazzi as well as acrobatic & juggling skills to amuse the audience. Street Theatre. 1650-1700 RESTORATION Comedy of Manners Examined rules of the society of the time from a satirical standpoint. Portrayed and commented upon the affectations of the upper classes. Based on the wit & banter of the aristocratic class. Thrived in time of material prosperity and moral laxity. Satirised the affected wit and self-importance of the minor aristocracy and a world where everyone thought that to better oneself was merely a question of speaking the right language and wearing the right clothes. Uses a heightened form of language. Courtship and Sexual attraction was an underlying theme. Plots were concerned with scandals and illicit love affairs. Women were allowed onstage for the first time. This became an excuse for raunchy and titlating drama based on the manners of the court and featured licentiousness, adultery and cuckoldry. In the later C18th, this developed into Bourgeois Comedy which was targeted more at the rising mercantile class. In more recent years, Oscar Wilde & Noel Coward developed this into an intellectual
Also by the horrors of WW2. Characters share a somewhat pessimistic view of the world in which humans struggle with their attempt to understand why they are here. Man inhabits a universe whose meaning is undecipherable. Structure is very loose. Rarely any plot or any sense of time passing. Non-linear. Language is disjointed; uses puns & repetition. Conversations go around in circles or are pure nonsense. Serious underlying discussion at a metaphysical level invariably to do with existence and death. Technical elements use symbolism. Pinteresque Amalgamates Realism with Theatre of the Absurd. Characters merely exist. No explanation as to why things happen, or who the characters are. Dialogue is simple & sparse. Noted for the use of pause & subtext. Generally features working class characters & settings. Focuses on relationships. Characters are seemingly unpleasant. Epic Primary aim was to use theatre as a means to induce an enquiring, critical, objective audience. Main focus was µtelling a story¶. Often used a Narrator. Projections used to add commentary or to allow for modern or historical parallels to be drawn. Puts a social or political message before the exploration of character. Often structured using montage form. Non-linear plot. Each episode is selfcontained. Uses Direct Address, Songs & Music. Usually involves a whole people¶s history, or many different