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OCR Greek Theatre Summary Notes
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Summary notes of the OCR A-level classical Civilisation Greek Theatre module.
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Greek Theatreouter limits of Attica. Held in a deme (a small village), the plays
performed were likely revivals of those performed at the two
main city festivals.
Background to Theatre Despite the festivals being in celebration of Dionysus, it is sometimes
unclear how the dramas linked to the god. It is estimated that about
Drama Festivals 4% of all of the known plays are directly linked to Dionysus.
Drama in the ancient world was performed at religious festivals. City Dionysia
Citizens could not simply just go and watch a play whenever they
wished. In fact, these drama festivals were held as competitions. A
The City Dionysia was held in late March. This is the start of the
series of playwrights enter collections of written plays for the purpose
sailing season and allowed the Athenians to show off their city and its
of being judged.
greatness to visitors from around the Greek world.
These ancient dramatic festivals are greatly associated with the
During the festival, public business ceased, the law courts closed, and
worship of Dionysus, the god of Theatre and ritual madness. The
prisoners were given a break to watch the plays. In the later years of
plays were only one aspect of the festival celebration (although an
the festival, in the late 5th century, the festival ran for five days, and
important part), the rest of the celebrations involved processions,
contained a number of other events.
sacrifices and revelry in honour of Dionysus.
The festival was organised by the Eponymous Archon, an Athenian
These festivals were often highly organised, and held as grand civic
leading political figure. Preparations for the festival began in the
celebrations. These celebrations were important to the entire city state
summer of the previous year. Any tragic playwright who wanted to
of Athens (all encompassed Attica). Any freeborn man from any part
compete in the competitions had to provide a brief synopsis of their 4
of Athens was automatically a full athenian citizen. This meant they
plays (3 tragedies and 1 satyr) to the Eponymous Archon. The
could take part in any civic event, such as the dramatic festivals.
selection process is unknown, but eventually 3 tragic playwrights were
chosen. In the end, 5 comic playwrights were chosen to write 1
There were two important festivals in the Athenian calendar. They
comedy each.
were:
● The Lenea festival - Held in late January. The competitions for
The Archon also had to select a choregos for each of the playwrights.
comedy and tragedy were introduced in C. 440. The date of
The choregos were the financial backers of the plays, their input was
the festival meant that only Athenian citizens could attend, no
vital. The choregos were drawn from the city’s wealthy elite, who were
one else could get there due to the rough conditions on the
required to fund a public service called liturgies. A choregos needed a
journey to Athens.
great deal of money. They paid for almost everything including
● The Rural Dionysia - Held in mid-winter. Unlike the City
costumes, props, masks, special effects, chorus payments and the
Dionysia, this was a rural festival that was celebrated in the
backing musicians. THe choregos would have to hire the chorus
,members and pay for their food and sometimes their accommodation. Festival Days
If the playwright couldn’t train their chorus the choregos would have to
pay someone to train them.
On the first day, the grand procession (Pompe) took place. It started
outside of the city and proceeded towards the Agora. After the Agora,
The Athenian’s with major wealth often wanted to be a choregos as it
it moved towards the temple of Dionysus. At the temple the
meant that, if they were successful in creating a great festival, they
procession ended in a sacrifice of a sacred bull and other animals. In
would gain prestige. Like Pericles, who was a choregos, who later
the afternoon they held Dithyramb competitions. A Dithyramb being a
went on to become the leader of Athens.
choral dance in honour of Dionysus). Each tribe entered 1 chorus.
Each citizen was a member of 1 of 10 tribes. Each chorus had its own
A few days before the festival began, the paragon (pre-contest) was
choregos. Later in the evening, a revel (known as Komos) would be
held in the Odeion (the covered concert hall next to the theatre of
held in the streets by the men in the city.
Dionysus). Here, the plays were announced and a short synopsis of
their plays read. The playwright might introduce his choregos, actors
In the late 5th century, day 2 of the 5 days is when the 5 comic
and his chorus with his musicians. Their actors may also read out a
playwrights presented their play to the audience. On the other 3 days,
small passage from their plays. This is the only time actors are seen
the tragic playwrights presented their 4 plays. Lots were drawn
without their masks, this allows the audience to see them.
randomly to determine in what order the 3 groups of plays would be
performed. The watching could continue until late in the afternoon.
On the evening before the festival began, a wooden statue of
Dionysus was brought into the city from a shrine outside the city. This
Before the start of the plays, a grand opening ceremony was held in
procession was followed by torchlight, and it re-enacted Dionysus'
the theatre of Dionysus. The priest of Dionysus would sacrifice a
arrival in Athens from a different shore. The statue was escorted to
piglet on the altar on the stage. The city's 10 generals poured libations
the theatre of Dionysus, a sacrifice was then made. The statue would
to the Olympian gods. Three presentations were then made. These
then be kept in the theatre throughout the festival as a symbol of the
were:
god’s presence.
● Parade of Tribute - Athens received tributes from areas under
its control. The money was brought into the theatre for all to
A schedule of the festival:
see.
● Days before - Pro-agon
● Proclamation of honours - A herald announces the names of
● Night before - Torchlight procession
those who had done excellent service, he then awarded them
● Day 1 - Pompe, Dithyramb contest, Komos
a crown.
● Day 2 - Opening ceremony - 5 comedies
● Parade of orphans - Young boys whose fathers died fighting
● Day 3 - 3 tragedies and 1 satyr
for Athens were paraded into the theatre. The state then paid
● Day 4 - 3 tragedies and 1 satyr
for the education as a mark of respect. Then when they turned
● Day 5 - 3 tragedies and 1 satyr, Judging and prizes
18 they were given a suit of armour and declared a free
● Days later - Review
citizen.
, If someone wanted to enter the theatre it would cost two obols per After the festival, the Athenian assembly met in the theatre to review
day. This is roughly one day's work for an unskilled labourer. the Archon’s work. Here citizens could leave a complaint. If a
However, in the late 5th century, the Athenian state opened the complaint was upheld, the Archon could be fined, but if it was deemed
Theoric fund, which paid for the poorest citizens to enter the theatre if a success, the Archon could be awarded a crown, this would be in
they could not afford the fee. recognition of his services.
The front seats of the theatre would be reserved for the important Theatre Space
officials:
● The 500 members of the city council
The most well preserved theatres are those made of stone, however,
● Foreign and allied dignitaries
they were only built in the late 4th century BC onwards. Before this,
● Generals
they were built from wood. All surviving Athenian tragedies and most
● Important magistrates
comedies date from the 5th century and there is no evidence as to
● Priest of Dionysus
every detail of the theatre space.
It is said by the late 4th century, that the seating of the theatre was
The theatron was the viewing area of the theatre. The seats were
split up into the 10 tribes so that the members could be seated
normally built on a hillside. The front row of the theatron would have
together. Although it is unknown if women were allowed in the theatre
been used by officials and dignitaries. This row was called the
or not.
Prohedria and in the Theatre of Dionysus the middle seat was
reserved for the priest of Dionysus. The main spectators would have
At the end of day 5, the judging began. The voting system works
sat on wooden benches, and when Theatres became made of stone,
through several steps:
so did the seats.
● Before the start, the Athenian council drew up a list of names
from the 10 tribes in the city.
The orchestra was the dancing area of the Theatre. It is here that the
● The names were then sealed in urns and hidden away in the
chorus would perform, they never went on stage. Due to their position,
Acropolis.
they often acted as the mediator between the actors and the
● The morning the plays began, the urns were drawn from the
audience. In the theatre there was an altar to Dionysus, a permanent
Acropolis and placed in the theatre.
reminder of the god. On each side of the orchestra was a path. These
● The Archon would then take one name from each jar. Those
were used to symbolise time passing or travel to different places.
picked would then swear an oath of impartiality before
becoming a judge.
At the back of the stage was a building called the skene. Originally a
● On the last day of the festival, each judge wrote down his
tent where the actors would change, the skene later became a
order of merit on a tablet.
permanent structure and backdrop for the dramas. As it was used as
● All 10 tablets were placed in a single urn.
a changing area, often the actors would store their props and
● The Archon drew out ½ of the tablets at random and the
costumes there. Inside, there would have been a ladder that allowed
playwright with the most votes was declared the winner.
them to access a third mezzanine level often dedicated to actors
playing the gods. As it was a permanent backdrop, the skene’s were
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