Listen&Learn: History of theatre

Learn about performance in ancient cultures

Pre-listening vocabulary

• audience: a group of people who watch a show but are not usually part of it
• script: a text that includes the lines and stage directions for a play
• comedy: a humourous play with a happy ending
• tragedy: a play where the main characters experience suffering and often death
• satirical: using humour to mock or criticize something
• exaggerate: to make something sound extreme and ridiculous

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

Many ancient used performance to tell . Early performances often had no “audience.” People would gather in groups and act out scenes to each other. The first known script is the ancient Egyptian Passion Play, which tells the story of the Osiris. In ancient Greece, outdoor theatres were built to display performances. The earliest Greek plays often had a single performer, who was called the protagonist. Over time, more complex comedies and tragedies developed. Throughout history, plays often had purposes. However, many plays were also satirical. They used exaggerated and plots to mock social institutions, including religion. For this reason, the theatre was often controversial.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The first known script comes from
   a. Greece
   b. Egypt
   c. Rome
   
2. The single performer in an early Greek play was called
   a. the lead
   b. the antagonist
   c. the protagonist
   
3. A satirical play
   a. always has a tragic ending
   b. has a religious purpose
   c. uses humour to criticize something

Discussion/essay questions

1. How often do you go to the theatre? Do you think movies have replaced traditional theatre? Why or why not?
2. What are some examples of satirical stories? Do you think satire is an important kind of art? Why or why not?

Transcript

Many ancient cultures used performance to tell stories. Early performances often had no “audience.” People would gather in groups and act out scenes to each other. The first known script is the ancient Egyptian Passion Play, which tells the story of the god Osiris. In ancient Greece, outdoor theatres were built to display performances. The earliest Greek plays often had a single performer, who was called the protagonist. Over time, more complex comedies and tragedies developed. Throughout history, plays often had religious purposes. However, many plays were also satirical. They used exaggerated characters and plots to mock social institutions, including religion. For this reason, the theatre was often controversial.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3c