greek theatre intro

• Drama
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Greek Theater

IMYC

Theme!

Did you discover something about yourself during the last period of theatre?

Ancient Greece

We are going to watch a video about Greek Theater

Pre-video assignment

On the next slide you see some words that will also be in the video about Greek Theatre. Drag the words to the pictures you think they match most. 

a creature with feathers and wings, usually able to fly  (bird)

Drag the text to the picture

Dionysis, god of wine & fertility

A humorous and funny play (comedy)

A sad play with an unhappy ending (tragedy)

A place in the center of the theater for musicians & chorus (orchestra)

A group of performers who sing, speak, dance and move in unison (chorus)

movement of a part of the body to express an idea/feeling (gestures)

During-video assignment

Make groups of 5 students. Each group will pay attention to one topic in the video (the teacher will give it to you). 

- Write down 5 words that you feel are important for this topic. 

Do this individually. 

Topics 

Greek gods

Dionysus
Important
 

Rituals
Songs - evolved into theatre 
Competitions 
Lot's of food Festivals 

Performers
Masks
Thespis 
High heeled shoes 

Amphitheatre
40.000 spectators 

Male performers
Competition
Orchestra 

The importance of theater in ancient greece

After video-assignment

Now get into your groups (topic groups) and discuss which words everyone came up with and why you think these are important!

Pick 3 of them that you feel are the MOST important and explain them to the rest of the class.

Chorus

Reflection 1

Write this title in your notebook

Reflect on: why you think people went to the theatre?

Vocabulary this lesson

Unison: to do something at the same time.

Chorus: A group of performers who sing, speak, dance and move in unison.

Repetition: The repeating of a word, phrase, movement or gesture.

Chorus exercises: move in unison

In a circle, teacher does a gesture everyone copies. Students offer new ideas for a gesture. Everyone does it in unison

Snake - groups of 4-6 through the room - arms on shoulders for distance

. Leader changing, tempo changing, walking/using whole body, start/stop

Taking arms away

Performance assignment

In your group:

Think of a daily activity - doing the dishes, brushing your teeth, eating dinner (for example)

Mime this activity in unison (together) 

Happy with it? Now write a 6-8 line story to go with it

Performance assignment

Experiment with:

• Choral moments: move as one/speak in unison
• Repetition - decide on a part to repeat 3/4 times
• Tempo fast/slow
• A surprising ending....

Feedback

Comment on:

Which parts really worked - why?

What didn't work - why?

What you liked/disliked - why?

Homework

Write down the vocabulary words from this lesson in the back of your notebook

Write down the meaning of the words (in your own words)

Greek gods             Rituals                Performers

Amphitheatre        Unison                Chorus

Repetition