Greek theatre is one of the most influential and renowned forms of theatre in history. It has been studied and emulated by theatre practitioners around the world for centuries.
Greek theatre originated in ancient Greece during the 6th century BC, and it has left an enduring legacy on modern theatre. Although there are many different interpretations of Greek theatre, there are generally three main types: Tragedy, Comedy, and Satyr play.
Tragedy
Tragedy was the most popular form of Greek drama. It was typically regarded as a high art form, with complex stories exploring themes such as justice, morality, and human suffering.
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were some of the most famous tragedians from ancient Greece. Tragedies typically followed a three-part structure known as the ‘unity of action’ – consisting of a beginning (the protasis), middle (the epitasis), and end (the catastrophe).
Comedy
Comedy was another popular form of Greek drama. It was often seen as more accessible than tragedy for its humorous and light-hearted stories.
Aristophanes is widely considered to be the greatest comic dramatist from ancient Greece. Comedies typically revolved around everyday life in Athens – including politics, love affairs, work life, etc. They often featured stock characters such as fools or slaves who spoke in colloquial language.
Satyr Play
Satyr plays were lesser-known comedies which featured satyrs – mythical creatures with a human torso and goat’s legs – alongside humans as actors on stage. These plays often featured crude jokes or obscene language which made them controversial at the time; they were seen as being less ‘civilised’ than other forms of Greek drama.
Conclusion: There are three main types of Greek Theatre: Tragedy, Comedy and Satyr play. Tragedy deals with complex themes such as justice, morality and human suffering; Comedy focuses on everyday life in Athens; and Satyr plays feature mythical creatures alongside humans on stage.