Staging


The Greeks would often build theatres on Hillsides

If the hill side was soft an excavation was made in the hillside and lined with rows of stone benches and steps leading up the rows were often lined with marble.

The auditorium was divided into several parts by your rank, the members of the council had the nearest rows to the orchestra then the young men sat together and the general public were given most of the space that could make their own choice of seats. 

Lysistrata

Synopsis:

Lysistrata plans a meeting between all of the women of Greece to discuss the plan to end the Peloponnesian War.

Lysistrata plans to ask the women to refuse sex with their husbands until a treaty for peace has been signed.

The women from the various regions finally assemble and Lysistrata convinces them to swear an oath that they will withhold sex from their husbands until both sides sign a treaty of peace.

Lysistrata’ was written over two-thousand years ago.

Greek comic playwright.

Greece his playwrights include sex and comedy.

 Greek Theatre


 ANTIGONE: I will be reading an extract by Ismene.

The play is ANTIGONE and was written by Sophocles

Written in 441 BC. 

Synopsis:

Antigone – Daughter of Odeipus

Creon – king of Thebes

Polyneices – traitor of the city but brother of Antigone.

Issues:

Errors of the past

Creon embodies the same faults of Oedipus

Antigone resembles her father is some ways

My monologue:

Antigone and Ismene are arguing about there brother and his burial and what Creon will do to them. When he finds out that they want to bury him.

Politics – Sophocles was appointed one of ten generals to led a military expedition against Samos. 

The play didn’t contain any no political propaganda.

On the whole, the play betrays no patriotic interests whatsoever. Rather than become sidetracked with the issues of the time, Antigone remains completely focused on the characters and themes within the play.

Tragedy!!!

The late 6th century BCE

It was during the 5th century that Athens became the most powerful city of Greece.

Athens became an imperial power herself

Conquering other Greek cities; eventually, though, the Athenians stretched their power too far and collapsed.

Sparta came along and conquered Athens in 404.

Greek legend attributed to Thespis the invention of acting.

Actors and chorus performed wearing elaborate costumes and masks.

With three actors playing multiple roles by changing their masks backstage a complete story could be acted out.

The costumes worn by the actors and chorus members were often the most striking element.

William Shakespear

l  At least two of his plays have been lost, but 38 survive.

l  Two of these, Henry VIII and The Two Noble Kinsmen, were supposedly co-written with John Fletcher.

l  The other 36 are divided into comedies, tragedies and histories.

sooo not been on for a while oopppss sorry guys. Anyway we have been learing about The Renaissance here's a few facts for you all :)

when was The Renaissance??

l  An era in history from around 1500 to the mid 1600’s

l  Covers the times when some of the  Tudors and Stuarts were in power

l  Tudors include King Henry VIII, and Queen Elizabeth I

l  Stuarts include King James I

why was it called The Renaissance??  

• The word ‘renaissance’ means ‘rebirth’ in French.

l  Huge rebirth of interest in the ideas of the classical period.

l  Important for well-educated people to be knowledgeable in both science and art.

l  People were making new discoveries and wanted to learn more about the world

What happened during that time??

l  People were making new discoveries and wanted to learn more about the world

l  1534 Church of England formed

l  1542 Mary Queen of Scots lays claim to English throne

l  1544 Henry VIII invades France

l  1545 French attempt to invade England

l  1577 Sir Francis Drake sets sail around the world

l  1585 England and Spain go to War

l  1587 – Elizabeth I executes Mary Queen of Scots

l  1588 – Spanish Armada

l  1590’s – First performances of Shakespeare, Marlowe and Jonson plays.  Even more theatres open

l  1593 – Plague forces theatres to close

l  1603 – Elizabeth I dies – James I becomes King

l  1605 – Gunpowder Plot

why would I need to know this??

I need to know this so I can explain and justify what was going on when my monolouge and scene were written also how life back then was influenced and how the staging was influenced by this.

 

Introduction

Hiya guys,

I am in a BTEC Level 3 course in Performing Arts (Acting). And for my next unit Classical Theatre I have to perform a monolouge from a classical source I have chosen Antigone, also I have to perform a scene from Lysistrata with a group of friends.

I have set up this blog to record my process through out this unit.