23/02/15

1.       When were ancient Greek plays performed?

Greek plays were performed only during religious festivals. They took play in a public space, half-circle shaped outdoor theaters. Only the cities citizens (all male) were allowed in the audience.

2. How many years ago was this?

2350 years ago

3. What different types of plays were performed?

The three genres of drama were comedy, satyr plays, and most important of all, tragedy.

4. What is a traditional Greek Theatre called?

Theatre buildings were called a theatron.

5. What shape was the theatre?

The theaters were large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills. They consisted of three main elements: the orchestra, the skene, and the audience.

6. Find a picture of a traditional Greek Theatre for your blog.

7. Why were the theatres built this way?

The shape allowed sound to be transmitted well and you can see the audience from all angles.

8. What different scenic elements are there?

Embracing Minimalism

Setting the Skene

Evolving Elements

Getting Technical

9. Who sat on the seats at the front?

the front seats are reserved for the priests...especially the seat of honour was reserved for the high priests of Dionysos

10. Could women take part in, or attend the plays?

No, only male could take part

11. Name some of the Greek playwrights and their plays.

Sophocles; 497 – 405 BC

Ajax. (440BC)

Antigone. (442BC)

Aeschylus: Born Elefsina  525BC

1.     The Persans (472BC)

2.     The Seven against Thebes (467BC)

Euripides : Born 480BC Halandi, Athens. Died 406BC

1.     Rhesus (450BC)

2.       Alcestis (438BC)

Aristophes: Born Athens 452 BC, Died A gina 385BC

1.     The acharnians

2.     The Knights

12. What did the audience throw at the actors who performed badly?

They would sometimes throw rotten vegetables if there was a bad performance. If it was good however, they might throw money. They also stomped their feet to applaud the actors, rather than clap their hands.

13. What did the actors wear?

Boots if they were playing tragic roles

14. How did the audience sat at the back of the large theatre hear anything?

The shape of the amphitheatre allowed sound to travel directly to every area of the stage and there was a stone wall at the back of the theatre allowing an echo to bounce back and the people at the back would hear.

15. Who is Dionysus?

Dionysus had a strange birth that evokes the difficulty in fitting him into the Olympian pantheon. His mother was a mortal woman, Semele, the daughter of king Cadmus of Thebes, and his father was Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus' wife, Hera, discovered the affair while Semele was pregnant.

16. Why is he important to Greek Theatre?

He supplied fun to the characters, allowing that balance between staying grounded and having fun or being happy.

17. What is a Greek chorus?

The chorus of Greek plays were made up of twelve people who dance, sing or act in unison.

18.  What purpose to the Chorus have in the performance?

They used the chorus as the lighting, sound and setting. The chorus helped to shape the piece for the audience.

19. How and why were masks used?

Masks were changed alongside the characters emotions, Greek plays used the masks to portray the different emotions to the audience by changing the expression on the mask instead of the character.

20. What were the masks made of?

The masks were made from organic materials like stiffened linen, leather, wood, or cork, with the wig consisting of human or animal hair.

TYPE OF MEDIA	EXAMPLE OF USE IN PERFORMANCE	POSITIVES OF USING IT…	NEGATIVES OF USING IT…
VIDEO CAMERA	You could film the scene and project it on the big screen rather than have it live	It can be more interactive for the audience to find the video rather than have it handed to them.	Some people may not have internet or mobile phones to watch the video so they could miss out on a crucial part of the piece.
MOBILE PHONES	If it was a modern play you could text each other and put the texts on a projector so you can see what people are texting each other.	It will be more realistic than saying the texts out loud which is another option.	It may be hard to get the equipment that has the ability to do that.
RADIO	Use it for sound effects that we would have used tracks for instead.	It can be a part of a scene particularly a house scene when the radio can be in the corner of the room.	Interferences can come through radio and It might be hard to get the sound we want onto a radio and into the scene.
TABLETS/IPADS	Used as the lighting for the piece since they would give off stronger light than a mobile phone	Can help modernize an traditional play as well as create an eerie atmosphere due to bright although lack of light	Battery life on tablets can differ and if one dies it could ruin the atmosphere. Also it might be hard to turn on and off the lights on command.
MAGAZINES	If you’re trying to address a certain topic you can put a magazine on the chair of the audience and get them to see what you see.	Could be a lot simpler than reading it aloud to the audience especially if you’re a poor reader.	People have different reading speeds so it could be hard to get them to all read at the same time.

(a) What do we mean by the phrase 'multimedia in performance'?

It means the use of media in performance such as film and video to help in the creation of a performance.

(b) Try to think of show you have seen at the theatre that has used multimedia. (If you saw summer folk as part of Common Ground then you could write about this...)

What type of multimedia was used?

The multimedia used in summer folk was headphones.

Did it enhance the performance? How and why?

It did enhance the performance because it was as though we were inside the head space of the actors, it was as though they were listening to the music because it reflected their emotions but we could hear it and understand their feelings too. I feel the whole thing really help enhance the relationship between the characters and the audience.

Multimedia in performance: 

Antingone's Family Tree 

1.   After reading the synopsis, I feel the story is really tragic but perhaps a bit unrealistic, although it is understandable that Antigone would kill herself if she’s being trapped in a cave to starve to death and that Haemon would too because of his love, I feel that when the Queen killed herself it was a bit hasty and unnecessary because it becomes frustrating that everyone’s reaction to the events is suicide. Other than that, I think the plot line is very suited to the time era and sounds very interesting to watch or read.

2.   Why do you think Sophocles wrote this play?

I think Sophocles wrote the play so people can realize the impact of their decisions on other people and the suffering it would bring in the end. I think family is a key theme in this play because in the end the king loses his whole family because he was so stuck in doing things his own way, I feel the moral is to be open minded and less stubborn.

3.   Why do you think the Greek audiences might have wanted to see this play?

I think people might have wanted to see this play because of the whole drama aspect of it, from what I know greek lives were very structured and to see such a disorientated family would have appealed largely to that audience

Scenes from Antigone:	Multimedia used and locations	How did the multimedia in each scene enhance the performance?
1. Creon announces that Eteocles will be honoured and Polynices will be shamed and left un-buried.	Video to be shown on screen in reception.	They first used a video to grab the audiences attention. As of this they used multimedia to introduce the first scene.
2. Antigone goes to Ismene to persuade her to assist the burial of their brother. Ismene refuses.	By the tree - video shown of the thoughts of the characters.	This showed the audience what the characters were feeling it made the scene more interesting as you could see what the actors were feeling and to emphasise the emotion they used a video.
3. Antigone goes to bury her brother.	Round of wooden stumps.	With the use of an alarm and police tape it made the  performance more realistic which made the audience catch to what was happening.
4. Creon looks for the support of the chorus of Theban Elders in his  decision to leave Polynices unburied.	Creon announces from fire escape door of 415 - chorus round the tree looking up. Audience looking up also.	This showed that Creon has a high  staus because he was above everyone including the audience.
5. A Sentry reports the burial of Polynices. Creon insists that the Sentry finds out who or face death.	Filmed footage of event is shown on screen top of stairs. Sentry talking to Creon.	The video made it more real because they had 'evidence'.
6. Chorus sing about honouring gods.	From the yard up to windows of 413 Recorded chorus played.	The audience watched this from 413, it made the chorus seem like one unit. Also the pre recoring and the breaths made it more symbolic and mysterious
7. Sentry returns with the Culprit: Antigone. Creon confronts her.	Burst into 413 - audience turn to see.  Lighting used.	The scene is sudden, so because of the use of light it makes it dramatic
8. Creon confronts Ismene. Ismene tries to confess but Antigone won't allow it. And in the end, the two sisters are imprisoned.	Still in 413 but Creon live speaks to a projected Ismene. Antigone is walked out the room and joins the real Ismene - escorted off.  Lighting used	This made it more interesting because they were watching a live actor communicate with someone on a video
9. Haemon both pledges allegiance to his father, Creon, and asks that Antigone be spared. After the discussion deteriorate, Haemon storms out vowing never to speak to him again.	Traverse in 413 - iphone lights as the two talk. Throughout confrontation, lights go out, one by one.	This made the scene more cryptic because there were only two lights to cover the characters, also the lights going out created an atmosphere.
10. Creon choses to spare Ismene, and to bury Antigone alive. As she is dragged out, the chorus express their Sorrow.	One light left on Creon's face. Sound of s body being dragged...etc.   Projection and video used	The sound caused a dramatic effect because the audience had no idea where it was coming from. The projection and video also created a mysterious atmosphere
11. Tiresias attempts to advise Creon that what he is doing is wrong and that the Gods are angry. The prophecy of a dead son is mentioned.	Tiresias never moves his mouth but what he says coupled with weird underscore is played through speakers of 415.  Projected video played	This captured the audiences attention because they would of watched the facial reactions of Tiresias while his voice was played but his mouth didn’t move (thought- track)
12. The chorus, terrified, begs him to take Tiresias' advice. Shaken, Creon agrees to release Antigone and bury Polynices.	As many chorus as possible fill cavities of 415 and urge Creon. Three doors and side grated window thing.	The chorus being in the scene filled the room with great tension.
13. Chorus deliver a choral ode to the god Dionysus.
14. Messenger informs Eurydice of Haemon and Antigone's death.	Filmed footage on repeat of Haemon stabbing himself and Antigone hanging, swinging from a branch.	Having the video of haemon stabbing himself made the audience sympathies with the characters pain because they were seeing him kill himself. It also made it easier for the audience to imagine what the actors were talking about as the audience could see what they were talking about
15. Carrying the body of his dead son Haemon, Creon is then met by a 2nd messenger informing him of Eurydice's death.	Audience back outside looking at tree. Creon walking through the courtyard, holding Creon, confronted by messenger at the tree. Chorus look down from 415.	Having the two dead bodies  laying infront of the audience and Creon himself  enphasised the amount of people that had been taken because of one mans decision. Moreover , it could also make the audience empathise with Creon because he is staring at his dead wife and son.

Evaluation

the performance of Antigone was good in my opinion, I felt like that the use of promenade theatre helped to make the play more exciting, interesting and kept the audiences attention because they never knew where they were going to go next or what was going to happen it was especially new for us as well. There was a range of multimedia used throughout the performance: videos, lights, pre recorded sounds, alarms and microphones. This made the performance interesting and made the play Antigone to a modern era and it also captured the audience because they had to have their full attention so they wouldn't miss anything. Overall, as this was used it gave the play a twist because sometimes only iPhone lights were used or sounds were being played but the audience didn't know where from. I feel like it made the audience more intrigued.

The multimedia impacted the audience because it was something new and also made such an old play new with using loads of technology. For some scenes we did them in groups and of course everyone had different views to the play and used multimedia in a slightly different way. The multimedia had a positive impact on the audience because it would make the piece simple to understand the piece aswell as the dialog of the play even if was modernised or the original text. It also made the play more unique and creative because there were so many different techniques.

the performance would not have been as effective without multimedia in my opinion because the storyline would of been confusing and would have made no sense. I think because we were split into groups we had a chance to interrupt it in different ways which eventually then made us use some elements of multimedia. It made the performance more unique because people could be more creative in the way they presented their scene which made the audience curious about what new they were going to be presented, everyone had used multimedia in a different way. The language that was originally used in the text is very different to how we speak now, it can be hard to understand, I feel like the use of video and sound helped audience members who were struggling to understand start to have a hint of what is going on, and made the audience have a sense what emotions the actors were feeling.

I think the the scene where Antigone buries Polynices, was effective because they used the space they were given well and I liked how they really engaged the audience by interacting with the, there use of props they used such as an alarm and police tape made the scene more realistic and made the audience understand the story better. There use of comedy made the scene different from the others and the characters contrasted because the guards added comedy but Antigone was serious.

16/04/15

The breathing and the choral speaking, shows that as a chorus we move as one and speak as one. Which is true to the chorus of traditional Ancient Greece. 

Having the voiceover in the background of this moment creates a stronger connection between us to show that although we are many people , we work as one.

Our scene is relevant to modern society because it, grasps on to the idea that everything has consequences and by the time you figure out you need to change, it can be too late. A modern audience would of been able to relate to this because everyone makes mistakes and now A days the consequences weigh on your shoulders, in the same way as the curse of Creon's wife and sons death, would of weighed on Creon.

Group 1- good committed to the characters well. Antigone and Ismene's relationship was presented clearly 

Group 2- modernised the language, was comedy. Serious when Antigone came in and saw her brother

Group 3- the movement that went along with the lines, worked well with the story line and made the piece more interesting  

Group 4- the status difference was shown clearly through their behaviour towards each other. Use of multimedia was good- news report 

Group 5 - characterisation was amazing and piece was really good, they projected every line and said it clearly 

Group 9- use of multimedia was good with some members shining lights on others and the relationship between the two characters was understandable and clear

Group 10- the groups characterisation was good and created the atmosphere very well for when the girls slammed the door their was a gust of silence.

26/03/15

We looked at two different scripts of Antigone, the script I had was an older context. Taffie and I worked on the scene where Creon finds out Antigone has buried her brother. I didn't really like how the dialogue  was worded because I didn't understand it. I didn't think I could relate to the feeling either Antigone and Creon were feeling as I couldn't understand it and most of the words were blunt. It was clear about their status and was obvious, as you could see how although Creon had more power than Antigone that she wasn't intimidated by that. 

We then got into groups and had to recreate a part of Antigone in a more modern context. I was in a group with Taffie, Jamie, Connor, Orianna and Jed. We didn't want to differ from the traditional elements of Greek tragedy too much, so we kept the chorus element. We set the scene in a modern location - a school. Creon was the headmaster, Antigone and Ismene were two girls who attended the school and the chorus were people who gossiped, imitating a stereotypical school. However, we tried to stick to the traditional language in Creons case, to show that whether he is the king of headmaster he still has the same mentality.

At the beggining, the chorus set the scene by saying "did you hear?", the message was passed around the circle so we could imitate the idea of rumors being spread at school and in this case the rumor was that Antigone(Me) had gone against school rules and Ismene had tried to take the fall for her. We did this because we wanted to put a modern twist on something that was very traditional and hard hitting but we wanted to stay true to what had happened in the play without morphing the story into something else so we kept the ideas very simply so they wouldn't be distorted too much.

 The role I played was very upfront and disrespectful towards Creon which resulted in me talking over either Creon or Ismene and Ismeene(Played by connor) was trying to resolve the matter  which we felt stuck to the original Antigone since Ismeene thought logically instead of just doing it. After the Scene between Antigone, Ismeene and Creon was done, the Chorus ended it up with what had gone on and re-called what they'd heard in the same way a traditional Greek Chorus would have done.

OTHER GROUPS:

GROUP 1: used a phone whatsapp group to portray to scene- modern language was funny to watch and was really creative 

GROUP 2: made it into a gang meet up and two prisoners were ismene and Antigone with two body guards, used a lot of street talk

GROUP 3: theirs was set in big brother where Antigone was being threatend of being kicked out of the house because of burying her brother the performance was good but began to drag on. 

GROUP 4: this was set in New York and they had the accents , the scenario was where they were in an Italian group and they were sent to kill people but then attend Polynices funeral but Creon and his body guard got in an argument with everyone and they started to argue. The performance was amazing and the storyline was well interpreted. 

GROUP 5: posh and old fashioned language was used. Creon was very stuck up and  so he refused to listen to what Antigone had to say. Antigone and Ismene were also posh and quite spoilt.

GROUP 6: Creon acts as if he's really strong and defensive but has a fear of dirt, so when Antigone spits on his hand he starts to panic. He relies heavily on his guards to protect him.

GROUP 7: Creon owns a pub and fires the two brothers but wants Antigone to still work in the pub. She says she's going to leave, and refuses to stay if her brothers are fired. 

16th March-multimedia

http://youtu.be/YDTPw6OMJy8

This is a trailer of waves a multimedia production shown in the national theatre, as I haven't watched it fully and only seen the trailer, the trailer already has made me intrigued of seeing it, i feel like multimedia makes it feel real and exciting and portrays a modernised effect to performances that was developed a long time ago. It could become more interactive for the audience and shows how you can use technology in a different way. You can easily connect to the characters as it feels like you're with them because of the use of technology 

Exploring the text

Antigone and Ismene

What did we focus on when exploring the scene?

We focused on the differences between Antigone and Ismene, and how we could show how those differences explain how the behave towards each other. However, we also acknowledged the link between them, being their loyalty towards family, and how they used that link in contrasting ways. Ismene believing that her loyalty lied with her heroic brother, whereas Antigone believed her loyalty lied with both her brothers.

How did you explore the characters practically?

We got into partners, one of us being Antigone one of us being Ismene. After we did that, we had to run through the text as these characters improvising the scene.

What did you discover about the relationship between the sisters?

Both Antigone and Ismene have strong personalities and that could be the source to why they argue so much and have different views to things. 

How did this scene link to some of the information you discovered in the session about historical context?

When looking at historical context, we discovered how Ancient Greek society revolved very much around the law and in this scene, Antigone and Ismene are arguing the two sides of going against the law and abiding by the law.

 

Antigone and Creon 

What did we focus on when exploring the scene?

We focused on the clashing of emotions during this scene, because it was the scene when Creon discovered that Antigone had buried her brother, despite him saying that, anyone doing so was to be prosecuted.

How did you explore the characters practically?

We got into partners, one of us being Antigone one of us being Creon. After we did that, we had to run through the text as these characters improvising the scene.

What did you discover about the relationship between the two characters?

Since Creon was a huge respected man he saw Antigone as one of his subjects, despite the fact they were family, I feel this is what made their relationship tense, since Antigone still looked at him as her uncle but Creon looked at her as someone that was supposed to follow him.

How did this scene link to some of the information you discovered in the session about historical context?

For Antigones character, we can understand that in society she was supposed to accept everything that Creon said. However, in this scene she's doing the opposite and this would have shocked Creon as well as an Ancient Greek audience.

Women in Greek theatre

How were women viewed in Greek theatre? And why?

In Greek theatre women were perceived to be lower status than men, they weren't allowed to voice their opinions so this was clearly stated in plays such as Antigone, since the playwright made sure, the male protagonist attempted to assert his dominants against the female protagonists. Females were not allowed to attend plays and if they were, they would be forced to sit at the back of the theatre. This could make a modern person view this attitude as a way men would be able to show they were aware of the difference in status, without being direct to women.

Cultural Context

What were the performance conventions in Sophocles time?

The theatre was mainly made to preform for high classed men this was done by dialogue, set design and sound. Usually at the end of the performance the audience is supposed to make their opinion and idea about what they think the play is about, they did this because different people would have learnt different things from it. 

What were the trends or fashions within the performing arts?

Costumes were important as only men could preform they had to make it obvious to see the difference between if it was a male or a female. If it was a tragic performance they wore boots that elevated them above the other actors. But when it came to female roles they put a wooden structure in front of the chests to pretend they were breasts.

Social Context of Antigone

What do you mean by social context?

The social environment: settings where people live or where something is set. It also includes people's culture 

How did people live in the time Antigone was created?

It was a very male dominating area, women had no part in politics and were looked upon as a housewife who stayed at home and looks after the children and only upper-class men could get education. There were a lot of slaves at the time who were used for the hard-working jobs or even made into servants. They lived in houses with no windows and furniture was not as much. They normally ate bread and wine and ate meat only on  special occasions .

Who was the target audience for the piece? 

Target audience were mainly men as they were the only ones who could go and watch plays at the theatre 

How did this influence the themes and characters of Antigone?

As only men were allowed to watch it, it was new to see a girl as a main character - Antigone.  This action showed equality between men and women and how women are not just capable of being housewives. 

Who went to the theatre?

Only men, the higher classed sat in the front while the rest sat at the back. 

What was the relationship between theatre, politics and religion?

 They were all used somehow to be mentioned in any plays for example Antigone wants to listen to the gods and politics comes in because of equality involved with her brothers 

Current Events

What was happening when Antigone was created?

Antigone was written in a time of intense emotion, Philosophy was becoming increasingly well known and because of this a war broke out between Athens and Sparta - Peloponnesian War. 

Was its creation influenced by any specific events?

I wasn't able to find any information about this but there was a play going on which had a character like Creon, who put all his power before his family meanwhile Antigone showed compassion and kindnesss.