The Ancient Greek Chorus in Historical Context | Paradise by Kae Tempest | National Theatre

Summary

Dr. Lucy Jackson explores the ancient Greek chorus, a group of 12-15 male performers integral to Greek drama. She explains the chorus's evolution from a central role to a supporting one, yet still influential in shaping the play's narrative. The chorus not only commented on the action but also physically interacted with characters, provided crucial information, and through their songs and dances, evoked a sense of familiarity and irony for the audience, connecting the stage to their everyday lives.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The ancient Greek chorus was a group of 12 to 15 people who played a significant role in Greek drama, often consisting of local residents, attendants, or friends of the main characters.
• 🏛️ The chorus was not just a background element but was central to the drama, providing immediacy and context to the stories and myths being performed.
• 👤 The concept of the chorus can be traced back to the dithyramb, a performance tradition where myth was related by a group of performers.
• 🎭 The role of the chorus evolved over time, with individual characters becoming more prominent in driving the action of the play.
• 💡 Despite the evolution, the chorus remained an innovative element in Greek drama, used by poets for dramatic effects even after the deaths of Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles.
• 💰 The chorus was often the most expensive part of a production, involving multiple performers, costumes, props, and specialized training.
• 🌐 The chorus was physically active on stage, interacting with characters and even driving the action of the drama, contrary to the common misconception that they only commented on the action.
• 🎵 The chorus performed odes that were connected to the plot and used familiar imagery, tunes, and rhythms to resonate with the audience on a personal level.
• 🎭 The chorus could profoundly shape the course of action in a play, providing crucial information, setting off events, and influencing the outcome.
• 👥 The chorus in Greek tragedy often acted as a character with its own motivations, backstory, and development throughout the drama.
• 🌐 The chorus provided a poetic counterpoint to the action, connecting the world of the play to the world outside through familiar songs and ritual utterances.

Q & A

What is the role of the chorus in ancient Greek theatre?

The chorus in ancient Greek theatre was a group of 12 to 15 people who were integral to the performance, often playing local residents or friends of named characters. They were not merely commentators but active participants who could drive the action, provide crucial information, and physically interact with characters on stage.

Who was the first actor in ancient Greek theatre according to some scholars?

Thespis is often hailed as the first actor and the inventor of tragedy, based on very slim evidence and the name given to the individual who separated from the chorus to initiate dialogue in Greek drama.

What was the dithyramb and how did it relate to the development of Greek tragedy?

The dithyramb was a kind of song and dance where myth was related by a chorus of performers. Aristotle suggests that tragedy emerged when an individual separated from this chorus, allowing for a conversation between the individual and the chorus, marking the beginning of Greek tragedy.

How did the role of the chorus evolve from the time of Aeschylus to the time of Sophocles and Euripides?

Initially, Greek tragedy was predominantly choral, but as the fifth century progressed, individual characters became more prominent. However, the chorus continued to be innovative and valuable, playing a major role in Greek tragedy throughout the Classical period.

Why was the chorus considered an expensive part of a Greek theatrical production?

The chorus was expensive due to the need to pay 15 performers, provide costumes and props for each, hire a large rehearsal space, and engage specialist trainers for choral song and dance.

Can you provide an example of the chorus acting as a protagonist in a Greek tragedy?

In Aeschylus' 'Eumenides,' the chorus are the Furies, who are pursuing Orestes and drive the action of the drama, showing that the chorus can be a protagonist with its own motivations and development.

How did the chorus physically interact with characters in Greek tragedies?

In Sophocles' 'Oedipus at Colonus,' the chorus is shown to physically intervene by surrounding Antigone to protect her from Creon, indicating that the chorus was not just a commentary but an active participant in the drama.

What is the significance of the chorus's songs and dances in Greek tragedies?

The chorus's songs and dances, or odes, were connected to the plot and used imagery, tunes, rhythms, and prayers familiar to the audience from their own cultural practices, making the plays resonate on a personal level.

How did the chorus create ironic feelings in the audience?

Tragedians used the chorus to create ironic and complicated feelings by deploying traditional songs related to events like weddings or healing in contexts where these themes were subverted or problematic.

What is the modern relevance of the chorus in Greek tragedy as seen in Kae Tempest's rewriting of 'Philoctetes'?

In Kae Tempest's modern adaptation, the chorus is transformed into a community of women deeply rooted in the setting, providing a new way for contemporary audiences to connect with the chorus by exploring individual backstories and character development.

How did the chorus serve as a poetic counterpoint to the action in Greek tragedies?

The chorus provided a poetic counterpoint by summoning up the world beyond the play through familiar songs and ritual utterances, creating a connection between the drama and the audience's own experiences.