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Greek Theater

It is a mystery when theater began.


However, many people believe that the first recorded theater
Took place in Ancient Greece. This began around 2.500 years
Ago.
Ancient Greeks began performing for competitions
and festivals. These festivals were to honor their gods and
goddesses.
People would travel from all over to see plays.
Some theaters could hold up to 14,000 people. Even prisoners
could be released for a short while to come see plays.
The theaters were called amphitheaters. They had three main portions.
A skene that had doors and a small stage for actors to stand on, the
orchestra that was the place the chorus danced and sang, and the
theatron where the audience sat. Their theaters were built into hillsides.
They also had such great acoustics (sound projection) that anyone in the
theater could hear a coin dropped in the center of the orchestra.
In these early plays, only men were allowed to perform. The first actor
was thought to be named Thespis. Many actors had to play several roles.
They wore masks to change characters.
There are two main types of theater that come from the Greeks. One is
called a tragedy and the other is a comedy. A tragedy is a play that ends
with something bad happening to the main character. A comedy is a
lighthearted, fun play.

Name:
Class:
Questions for Greek Theater
1. How many years ago did theater start in Greece?
2. Why did the Greeks have these festivals and competitions?
3. How many people could some Greek theaters hold?
4. What were Greek theaters called?
5. What are the three main parts of a Greek theater?
6. Who was allowed to perform in these plays?
7. Who was Thespis?
8. What did actors wear to change character?
9. What two types of plays were created by the Greeks?
10.

Which type of play ends with bad things happening?

11.

Which type of play is fun and lighthearted?

On the back of this page, draw your own Greek Theater.


Put some actors in masks on your stage.

Name:
Class:
Questions for Renaissance Theater

1. What does Renaissance mean?

2. In what country did the Renaissance begin?


3. Did theater go outdoors or move inside in this time period?
4. What is the arch called that makes a picture frame of the stage?
5. Music, song, and dance became important. What type of performance
evolved from this?
6. What kind of performance became popular with the middle and lower
classes?
7. Did they use scripts?
8. They used the same characters over and over. They were called
9. Who is the greatest English playwright of all time?
10.

How many plays did he write?

Name:
Class:
Questions for Shakespeares Theater
1. When did Shakespeare build the globe theater?

2. What river is it next to?


3. How many stories did it have?
4. How would I know it was a performance day?
5. What was the open courtyard called?
6. If I paid more for my ticket would I be in the pit or seated in the
galleries?
7. What was cut into the main floor to let people appear and disappear
from the stage?
8. What was painted on the ceiling?
9. What was that roof area called?
10.

Did the audience expect the plays to be realistic?

11.

Did they use scenery?

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