What Is Role Of Greeks In The History Of Theatre?
Theatre as we know first developed in Greece as part of the religious observance. The stage was simply a circle of turf on which the danced around the altar of Dionysus. The spot was actually at the foot of a hill so that the spectators on the slopes could see the dancing. This started the tradition of Greek theatre. In fact the word ‘theatre’ is of Greek origin and it means ‘a place for seeing’. A theatre built in Athens about 500 B.C. had a circular place, called orchestra, while the performance was given. Erected behind the circle of the orchestra was a dignified looking stage building. It was used as a dressing place for the performers. This ‘skene’ (from which the word ‘scene’ came) served as a background for the action of the play. Very little scenery was used by the Greeks and no artificial lighting was needed, because the plays were presented in day time. The first permanent theatre was built in Rome in 52 B.C. by the Romans.
