Student Question
What is the history of Greek theatre?
Quick answer:
Greek theatre originated from choral performances at religious festivals, as described by Aristotle in Poetics. These performances involved singing and dancing, eventually evolving to include individual recitations by a chorus leader. Aeschylus introduced a second actor, shaping the structure of tragedy with alternating choral odes and dialogue episodes. The three main genres were tragedy, comedy, and satyr play, all featuring a mix of dialogue and choral sections.
The most comprehensive account preserved of the origins of Greek theatre is
the one in Aristotle’s Poetics. This is supplemented by archaeological evidence
and internal evidence from and scholia on the Greek plays themselves, as well
as various comments in other ancient works.
According to Aristotle, Greek drama originated in choral performances given at
religious festivals, which included singing and dancing. Eventually the leader
of the chorus began to have lines he recited individually. Aeschylus is
credited with adding a second actor, and fully developing what became the
canonical form of tragedy, in which choral odes alternated with episodes of
dialogue.
The three main genres of Greek drama were the tragedy, the comedy, and the
satyr play, all of which alternated sections of dialogue, with actors speaking
individually, and choral performances.
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