The chorus was an integral part of Greek theatre, with its presence first known to be documented in 486 BC. The chorus was a group of actors that were responsible for expressing the emotions and opinions of the characters on stage.
They would sing, dance and provide commentary throughout the performance, often in unison. They added to the atmosphere and provided a bridge between the audience and the action on stage.
The number of actors that comprised the chorus varied depending on the type of play being performed. In tragedies, there were typically 12-15 members as this number was seen to be appropriate for expressing a collective emotion or opinion. In comedies, however, there could be as many as 24 members as it was seen to better capture the tone and humour of these types of plays.
The chorus usually consisted of male citizens from Athens who had been trained in dance, music and acting from an early age. Although some female members were occasionally allowed to join in performances, it was not very common due to ancient Greek cultural norms at the time.
The costumes worn by chorus members were quite elaborate and often included wreaths made from pine tree branches or ivy leaves as well as brightly coloured robes or tunics. Some wore masks that featured exaggerated facial features such as large eyes or long noses which added to their dramatic effect onstage. These costumes helped to further differentiate them from other characters on stage and were seen as a way of unifying their performance and bringing together differing elements into one cohesive unit.
In addition to singing and dancing during performances, chorus members also took part in dialogues between characters or acted out scenes alongside other actors on stage in order to give more life to their roles. This allowed them to have a larger presence within the play itself rather than simply providing background noise throughout it.
Overall it is clear that the chorus had an important role in ancient Greek theatre by creating atmosphere through song and movement while also providing commentary on certain events or character motivations within a play itself. The exact number of actors that comprised a chorus could vary depending on which type of play they were performing but traditionally it would consist of 12-15 male citizens from Athens who had been extensively trained in music, dance and acting from an early age.
Conclusion: How many actors comprised the chorus in Greek theatre? Generally speaking, 12-15 male citizens from Athens made up tragic choruses while comedic choruses could include up to 24 members depending on which type of play they were performing for audiences at the time.