The ancient Greeks created the concept of theater and dramatic plays. The democratic society in Greece was concerned with humanity and philosophy, which gave rise to the dramatic play. Playwrights focused dramatic plays on themes of humanity and the struggle of the gods. The theater played a major role in the everyday life of Greek citizens. During festivals, actors and playwrights often competed with each other for the best performance.
Actors perform dramatic plays on stage for an audience. Features of a dramatic play include characters, props, a plot divided into different acts and sometimes even music. In ancient Greek theater, a chorus danced and sang during the performance of a dramatic play to set the mood, interpret events, give background information and relieve tension. While most dramatic plays included violent scenes or the appearance of a god, the use of special effects was minimal.
The two main types of dramatic plays are tragedies and comedies. Tragedies, the most well-known type of Greek drama, focus on a major calamity or death, raising questions about society, relationships, morality and the meaning of life. A tragic dramatic play follows the main character, or tragic hero, to his unhappy and inevitable end. Comedies, however, sought entertainment and laughter, often mocking men in power for being vain and foolish.
Above all, a dramatic play strives to provide an entertaining performance for the audience. Actors want to evoke emotions like laughter, sadness, curiosity, fear and wonder in the theater audience. Just as the ancient Greeks frequented the theater, people today flock to movies and plays for entertainment. Performances also provide us with a chance to use our imaginations and escape from the stress of everyday life. Dramatic plays teach people about humanity.
The dramatic plays of ancient Greece have endured over time and remain an important part of our culture. Students read and write about dramatic plays in literature classes. People write plays as a creative outlet for self-expression. Actors perform on stage to bring dramatic plays to life. Associate professor of theater Dr. Debra Bruch views theater as the height of creation because it creates a complete and living world that focuses on ourselves as human beings.