THEA 103 1st Edition Lecture 4Outline of Last Lecture I. MaterialsII. FastenersIII. HardwareOutline of Current Lecture I. Ancient Greek TheatreII. Roman TheatreCurrent LectureI. Ancient Greek Theatrea. 6th century BC through 4th century BC. Theatre was performed at festivalsb. Orchestra-“dancing place” for chorusc. Theatron-where the audience sat-as many as 4,000. Built on hillside for sightlines and acoustics.d. SkeneOriginallytemporary structures as a place for actors toe. change masks/costumes-perhaps similar to soft-cover flats, probably painted ordecorated, probably not representational4th century BC-Hellenistic era-Skene became permanent. Raisedstage with porchlikecollonade in front called proskenion. Behindstage was episkenion with separated openings-maybe used forinterior scenes. Skene encroached on orchestra circle.f. Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) conquered Asia Minor and Italy-Greek style theatres were built in these areas during this time.g. Stage machines in Greek theatre:h. Ekklykema-rolling wagon maybe rolled through central door in skene.i. Mechane-crane to suspend actors in front of skene. “Deus Ex Machina” God in the machine, used to fly Gods in.j. Periaktoi-traingular structures mounted on a pivot. Threesides-each side could be decorated in different fashion.Probably not used before Hellenistic period. Still used sometime today.k. Most Greek theatres were later renovated by Romans, therefore today have semi-circular orchestras, not the original Greek circular ones.l. Golden age of Athens included: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripedes, Aristophanes as playwrights.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.II. Roman Theatrea. Roman culture was largely adopted from the Greeks, but theatre was not as big of a dealin Rome. In Rome, theatre was politics. Those running for office would stage elaborate theatre.b. Roman theatre performances were part of larger festivals involving sports, bloodsports, spectacles, etc. c. Temporary stages.First permanent theatre built 55 BC-Theatre of Pompey-built at atime when the Republic was to become the Empire. d. Little is known about scenery until 1st century BC, when there is record of realistic scenepainting. Temporary stages probably hadstatic backgounds.e. Permanent theatres: Similarto Greek theatres but the stage and audience were enclosedin an entire buiding rather than built on hillsides. First permanent theatre the Theatre of Pompeii at the time of 1st triumvirate. f. Skene became Scanae frons.g. Orchestra became half circle-often used for VIP seating, gladiators, or water spectacle.h. Audience entrance to theatre through passage under the seatscalled vomitorium.i. Roof over stage, front curtain used.j. According to Vitruvius-periaktoi used with three scenes. k. Tragedy (scenes of noble houses),Comedy (scenes set around common man), Satyrical plays (set in pastoral or farmland settings).l. Amphitheatres-like two theatres joined. Had elaborate stage machinery-m. Elevators and ramps under stageallowing settings to appear and disappear. Also used forgladiators and wild animals to appear. n. Cranes used to fly performers overhead.Flooded for mock naval battles. Pyrotechnics were used.There is no evidence these effects were ever used for theatrical performances.o. Fall of Rome-476. Theatre at first tolerated in Christian era, thenbanned. No formal theatre for about 500 years after