This festival was held to honor the God Dionysus, God of fertility and wine. The central events of this festival were the theatrical performances of tragedies (goat songs) and comedies. Those plays were performed four times a year. The Dionysia festival consisted of two festivals, which are Rural Dionysia and City Dionysia. The City Dionysia was held during March to April. Another purpose of this festival was to use it as the showcase of the Athenian wealth and power. It was also a religious and civic celebration. In 534 BC, the first record of tragedy contest happened. The Thespis was established. Thespis was the person who stepped out of the chorus or can also be called the actor. There were 9 tragedies produced at each City Dionysia. The theater of Dionysus consisted of the theatron, orchestra, thymele, skene, eccyclema, and machina. The performers for City Dionysia were all male. All the speaking parts were undertaken by three actors. These three actors performed in all three tragedies. These actors also act as a woman in the play sometimes. One actor was allowed to play more than one role or character. In the play, there were also the supernumeraries or the extras who did not speak any lines. They only showed movement. Chorus was essential. Tragic chorus consisted of 15 men but sometimes divided into a semi-chorus, which consisted of only seven people. The chorus focused on the dancing and singing. The chorus leader might have a solo line sometimes, whereas the rest of the chorus responded as a group. The main purposes of the chorus were to judge, give advices, and express opinion about the action of the characters. All the people who were involved in the play had to do some exercise and maintain their diet because they had to keep their body looking good. All the performers of the Tragedy plays also wore masks and character’s appropriate
This festival was held to honor the God Dionysus, God of fertility and wine. The central events of this festival were the theatrical performances of tragedies (goat songs) and comedies. Those plays were performed four times a year. The Dionysia festival consisted of two festivals, which are Rural Dionysia and City Dionysia. The City Dionysia was held during March to April. Another purpose of this festival was to use it as the showcase of the Athenian wealth and power. It was also a religious and civic celebration. In 534 BC, the first record of tragedy contest happened. The Thespis was established. Thespis was the person who stepped out of the chorus or can also be called the actor. There were 9 tragedies produced at each City Dionysia. The theater of Dionysus consisted of the theatron, orchestra, thymele, skene, eccyclema, and machina. The performers for City Dionysia were all male. All the speaking parts were undertaken by three actors. These three actors performed in all three tragedies. These actors also act as a woman in the play sometimes. One actor was allowed to play more than one role or character. In the play, there were also the supernumeraries or the extras who did not speak any lines. They only showed movement. Chorus was essential. Tragic chorus consisted of 15 men but sometimes divided into a semi-chorus, which consisted of only seven people. The chorus focused on the dancing and singing. The chorus leader might have a solo line sometimes, whereas the rest of the chorus responded as a group. The main purposes of the chorus were to judge, give advices, and express opinion about the action of the characters. All the people who were involved in the play had to do some exercise and maintain their diet because they had to keep their body looking good. All the performers of the Tragedy plays also wore masks and character’s appropriate