🎭History of Theatre I Unit 4 – Hellenistic and Roman Theatre

Historical Context

• Hellenistic period began after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE and lasted until the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BCE
• Characterized by the spread of Greek culture and language throughout the Mediterranean and Near East
• Greek influence extended to art, architecture, literature, and theatre
• Hellenistic kingdoms emerged, including the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, the Seleucid Empire in Mesopotamia and Persia, and the Antigonid dynasty in Macedon
• Cultural exchange and syncretism occurred between Greek and local traditions
• Rise of new cities and centers of learning (Alexandria, Pergamon, Antioch)
• Increased trade and economic prosperity facilitated the growth of theatre and the arts

Key Characteristics of Hellenistic Theatre

• Continued the traditions of Greek theatre while incorporating new elements and influences
• Plays were performed at religious festivals and in honor of Dionysus, the god of theatre
• Tragedies explored themes of fate, suffering, and the human condition
• Comedies often satirized contemporary society, politics, and philosophy
• Increased use of stage machinery and special effects (ekkyklema, mechane) to create spectacle
• Emergence of new dramatic genres, such as the satyr play and the phlyax play
  • Satyr plays featured a chorus of satyrs and blended tragedy and comedy
  • Phlyax plays were short, farcical comedies performed in southern Italy
• Greater emphasis on individual actors and their performances

Roman Theatre: Origins and Development

• Originated from Etruscan and Greek influences, particularly the phlyax plays of southern Italy
• Early Roman theatre included improvisational performances (Atellan farce) and religious rituals
• First recorded Latin play, "Livius Andronicus," was performed in 240 BCE
• Theatre became increasingly popular and institutionalized during the Roman Republic
• Permanent stone theatres were constructed, such as the Theatre of Pompey in 55 BCE
• Plays were performed at religious festivals (Ludi Romani, Ludi Plebeii) and public events
• Development of new dramatic genres, including fabula palliata (comedy based on Greek models) and fabula togata (comedy depicting Roman life)
• Increasing influence of mime and pantomime performances

Influential Playwrights and Works

• Menander (342-290 BCE): Greek playwright known for his New Comedy style, which influenced Roman comedy
  • Works include "Dyskolos" (The Grouch) and "Samia" (The Woman from Samos)
• Plautus (c. 254-184 BCE): Roman playwright who adapted Greek New Comedy for Roman audiences
  • Works include "Aulularia" (The Pot of Gold) and "Miles Gloriosus" (The Braggart Soldier)
• Terence (c. 195-159 BCE): Roman playwright known for his refined style and complex characters
  • Works include "Andria" (The Girl from Andros) and "Adelphoe" (The Brothers)
• Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE-65 CE): Roman philosopher and playwright who wrote tragedies influenced by Greek models
  • Works include "Medea," "Phaedra," and "Thyestes"

Performance Spaces and Staging Techniques

• Hellenistic theatres were typically built on hillsides, with a circular orchestra and a raised stage (skene)
• Roman theatres were freestanding structures, often with a semicircular auditorium (cavea) and a raised stage (pulpitum)
• Scenery and backdrops were painted on panels (pinakes) and could be changed between scenes
• Use of stage machinery, such as the ekkyklema (wheeled platform for interior scenes) and the mechane (crane for flying characters)
• Incorporation of music, dance, and choral performances
• Masks were used to represent characters and amplify actors' voices
• Costumes and props were used to indicate character types and social status

Actors and Acting Styles

• Actors were primarily male and played multiple roles, including female characters
• Masks allowed actors to switch between characters and convey emotions
• Acting styles varied depending on the genre and the individual actor
• Tragic actors used stylized gestures and vocal techniques to convey intense emotions
• Comic actors relied on exaggerated movements, facial expressions, and improvisation
• Pantomime actors used dance and gesture to convey stories without spoken dialogue
• Actors could achieve celebrity status and were often associated with particular character types

Themes and Social Commentary

• Hellenistic theatre explored themes of fate, divine intervention, and the human condition
• Roman theatre often focused on social and political issues, such as class divisions and moral corruption
• Comedies satirized contemporary society, lampooning stock characters like the boastful soldier and the cunning slave
• Tragedies dealt with mythological themes and the consequences of human actions
• Plays sometimes served as vehicles for political commentary and criticism
• Theatre provided a space for the exploration of ideas and the questioning of social norms
• Themes of love, betrayal, and family dynamics were common in both Hellenistic and Roman theatre

Legacy and Influence on Later Theatre

• Hellenistic and Roman theatre laid the foundation for the development of Western theatre
• Greek New Comedy influenced the development of Roman comedy and later European comedic traditions (Commedia dell'arte, Shakespearean comedy)
• Seneca's tragedies influenced the development of Elizabethan and Neoclassical tragedy
• Roman theatre architecture inspired the design of Renaissance and modern theatres
• Surviving plays provide insight into ancient Greek and Roman society, values, and beliefs
• Themes and character types from Hellenistic and Roman theatre continue to be adapted and reinterpreted in contemporary works
• Study of ancient theatre informs our understanding of the evolution of dramatic forms and techniques