On the origins of theatre

• English
• Secundair onderwijs

On the origins of theatre

Before watching the clip: focus on

* The chorus: functions, change throughout the course of Greek history

* The actors: who was first, who added a second actor, a third, ...

* The different characters: how were they presented

* Listen for the story of Oedipus Rex

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Who is given credit as being the first actor in history?

1. Socrates
2. Aeschylus
3. Thespis
4. Sophocles

Over the course of Greek history, the role of the chorus

1. diminished, as fewer people attented the play
2. diminished, as more actors were introduced
3. increased, as the stories became more complicated
4. increased, as more people wanted to be onstage

Who added a second actor to Greek tragedy?

1. Aeschylus
2. Seacrestopolis
3. Sophocles
4. Thespis

Actors played multiple parts in each play.

1. True, they altered their voices so the audience could tell them apart
2. False, the playwrights cast one character for each part written
3. True, they switched masks so the audience could tell the different characters apart
4. True, they changed costumes so the audience could tell the different characters apart

Why is the story of Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, the most tragic of all?

1. Because Oedipus killed his father and slept with his mother
2. Because he had very bad parents
3. Because he had no eyes, they were cut out
4. The story isn't a tragedy, it's a comedy.

Summary

* Theatre has its roots in Ancient GREECE, 5th century BC

* First form of theatre were tragedies: sad stories told by a chorus

* Thespis stepped out of the chorus and was the first actor

* Later, more actors were added and the role of the chorus diminished

Summary

* Later, more actors were added and the role of the chorus diminished.

* The actors wore masks and changed them to show the character they acted out.

* The story of Oedipus Rex is the most famous tragedy: a king who unintentionally  fell in love with his mother and killed his father.