Greek/Roman Theatre (600 B.C. - 400 A.D.)

Theatre of ancient Greece

532 BCE

Euripides

484 BCE

Along with Aeschylus and Sophocles, Euripides was one of the most talented and well-known tragedians from the greek period. One of his most popular works "Medeia" established his talent for using "clever dialogues, fine choral lyrics, and gritty realism in both his text and stage presentations (Cartwright). Euripides throughout his career wrote about 90 plays and was best known for his inducement of self-realization he would have his audience do without having to ask.

"The Persians"

472 BCE

" The Persians" is the oldest surviving greek play in its entirety. This play was produced by Aeschylus, an innovative playwright. The play originally had one actor and as it developed over time that number grew. It is said that this play differed from anything that had previously been put on in its time with its specific genre being a tragedy. This "new" captivating way of theatre led to Aeschylus being known as the father of the genre tragedy as we know it today. (classical literature)

"Oedipus Rex"

430 BCE

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is one of the most iconic plays to this day. The plot of this play features a man who has been foretold a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother and his journey to doing everything in his power to not let this prophecy be fulfilled. This play holds a special place in history, not only is it one of the plays that made the genre tragedy so popular but it gained all of its respect whilst only having three speaking actors performing. (Brockett 70)

Aristophanes' "Lysistrata"

411 BCE

Only eleven comedies from the greek theatre period have survived and they are all by Aristophanes. The most popular greek comedy is Lysistrata, a comedy about the women of Greece who successfully use a sex strike to end a war. Comedies in that period used costumes that would depict the man as nude as he would ridicule himself, which makes sense as it was performed during the period of the worshipping of Dionysus, so they constantly took the opportunity to celebrate fertility (Brockett 76)

Theatre of Dionysus

350 BCE

The Dionysus theatre was within a compound that included a temple and an altar where they would worship Dionysus, the god of wine, winemaking, grape cultivation, fertility, ritual madness, theater, and religious ecstasy. In this theatre, the plays of Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes (which developed from the Dionysian tradition) were first performed in the 5th century BC. ("Dionysus • Facts And Information On Greek God Dionysus")

Introduction to Theatre for the Romans

240 BCE

In the 4th century, Rome expanded and now controlled several different territories; some in specific being greek ones. By 240BC theatre was known by Romans and translated into Latin, the Romans were mesmerized. The first recorded roman drama was performed not too long after at the Ludi Romani (better known as the Roman games/ festival). ("Introduction To Theatre -- Roman Theatre")

Plautus' "Pseudolus"

192 BCE

Although we may still see Greek plays being performed in today's age, the same is not to be said about Roman plays. In the 1960s, Composer Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and book writers Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart turned three of Plautus's farce comedies, Pseudolus, Miles Glorioso, and Mostellaria, and combined them by mixing plots and characters and recreated it into one of the most successful musicals of the 60s, "A funny thing happened on the way to the forum". (Brockett 83)

Quintus Roscius Gallus

126 BCE

Quintus Roscius Gallus was originally a slave. One day as he had a snake wrapped around his neck his "master" enjoyed the dramatics and had him sign up to be an actor. Roscius became successful and began to get paid but as per tradition, he did not receive the money. Eventually, his "master" began to give Roscius part of the money until eventually, he was able to buy his freedom. He continued acting and made a fortune out of it until he retired closed to his death in 62 BC. (Wikipedia)

naumachia between Athenians and Persians

2 BCE

The Roman festivals (Ludi Romani) began to grow in their fascination with bloodsports (Brockett 84). Their performances continued to grow in belligerency and by 2 BC they were staging naumachia performances. Naumachia performances were a dangerous and violent staged naval battle based on real or fictional events for the purpose of entertainment. These performances were put on by convicts and prisoners who were aware of the risks of dying by mutilation or drowning. (visit colosseum rome)

The fall of the Roman theatre

400

As the Christian church began to grow, it directly opposed the theatre, they did not agree with the promotion of worshipping idols and pagan gods that the roman theatre was connected to. They expressed their intolerance for it and the theatre began to slowly decline; however, it did not officially disintegrate until 476 AD after being overrun by invaders. (Brockett 84)