What Is Chorus in Greek Theatre?

Greek Theatre|Theater

Chorus in Greek theatre is an integral part of the drama, providing an ensemble of characters that are used as a narrative device and to move the plot forward. The chorus is made up of a group of actors that provide commentary on the action and often provide additional information about the characters and situations in the play.

The role of the chorus was first developed in ancient Greece around 500 BC, during the time when theatre was first being established as an art form. The chorus was typically made up of 12 or 15 members, all men, dressed in masks and robes.

The chorus would provide commentary on the action taking place on stage and often serve as a foil to characters in the play. This provided an opportunity for audience members to gain insight into the situation without actually seeing what was happening onstage.

The chorus’s role in Greek theatre was multi-faceted. Not only did it provide narrative exposition, but it also provided emotional context and served as a moral compass for audience members.

Through their interactions with other characters, they could convey messages about right and wrong behaviour which were relevant to contemporary social issues. They could also be used to create suspense or add tension by delaying or heightening certain plot points throughout the course of a performance.

In addition to their narrative function, the chorus also played an important role in creating atmosphere within a performance space. Choral odes provided a musical accompaniment to scenes and heightened emotions within them, while costumes helped build a sense of spectacle within a performance space.

Chorus members were also responsible for creating movement on stage, establishing spatial relationships between actors and providing visual interest with their coordinated movements. This allowed for more creative staging which could be used to draw attention to certain moments or plot points within a production.

Overall, it is clear that chorus held an important place in Greek theatre by providing both narrative exposition and emotional context for audience members as well as helping create atmosphere within performances. Their presence was integral to establishing theatre as an art form, allowing for more creative staging techniques which could be used to further develop performances beyond simply reciting dialogue from scripts.

Conclusion:

What Is Chorus in Greek Theatre? Chorus in Greek theatre is an essential part of drama that serves multiple purposes including providing commentary on action taking place onstage, creating atmosphere through odes and costumes, adding tension through delaying or heightening plot points, as well as helping create movement on stage through coordinated movements.