The Greek theatre is one of the most influential forms of entertainment in history. It has been around for over 2,500 years and is still performed today.
The ancient Greeks believed that the art of theatre was a gift from the gods and it was used to entertain, educate and inspire people. During its peak in the 5th century BC, Greek theatre was incredibly popular and drew large crowds of spectators.
The most famous of these theatres was known as the ‘theatron’ which means ‘seeing place’ in Greek. This was a large open-air amphitheatre that could accommodate up to 17,000 spectators.
The design of the theatre was similar to modern day theatres with a raised stage and three seating levels, divided by staircases. These levels corresponded to each social class with the upper level being reserved for wealthy patrons.
The audience in these theatres were usually made up of a mix of men, women and children from all sections of society. It has been estimated that up to 14,000 people would attend performances at any one time in the largest theatres. People would come from all over Greece to watch dramatic performances such as tragedy, comedy and satyr plays.
Greek theatre audiences were also highly active participants in the show. They would cheer on their favourite actors or boo at disliked characters. They also had an important role in providing feedback on how well a performance went by clapping or stamping their feet – something which is still done today when watching live performances.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Greek theatre audiences were made up of men, women and children from all sections of society who came together to watch dramatic performances such as tragedy, comedy and satyr plays. It has been estimated that up to 14,000 people would attend performances at any one time in the largest theatres making it one of the most popular forms of entertainment during its peak in 5th century BC.