Greek theatre is a form of theatre that spread throughout the ancient Mediterranean and flourished in the cities of both Greece and Rome. It has had an incredible influence on modern theatre and continues to be a major influence in contemporary theatre.
The origins of Greek theatre can be traced back to the 6th century BC, when festivals were held in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and drama. These festivals featured performances by actors who sang, danced, and performed plays written by playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes.
The origins of Greek Theatre are largely unknown. The most popular theory is that it began as part of religious festivals honoring Dionysus.
During these festivals, men would sing hymns to the gods in chorus and perform simple theatrical sketches. Over time these performances became more elaborate and focused on stories about heroes or gods that explored moral issues.
The first known theater structure was built in Athens around 550 BC. This theater was made out of wood and had a circular stage surrounded by tiered seating that could accommodate up to 17,000 people.
As more theaters were built throughout Greece and Rome, they adopted larger seating capacity with stone or marble stages with ornate decorations such as masks and statues.
Greek Theatre also included costumes and masks which represented gods or characters from mythology. Masks were made out of terracotta or bronze with features such as eyes painted onto them so that they could clearly be seen from the audience’s view point. Costumes also often included props such as wreaths which symbolized status or power.
Greek Theatre reached its peak in Athens during the 5th century BC when it became part of everyday life for citizens who would flock to see plays written by some of the most famous playwrights such as Aeschylus and Sophocles.
Conclusion:
Although it is unclear who invented Greek Theatre, it is generally accepted that it originated from religious festivals dedicated to Dionysus during the 6th century BC in Athens and spread throughout the Mediterranean region during this period before reaching its peak during the 5th century BC when some of its most famous playwrights wrote their works.