History of Theater Facts & Worksheets

Understanding the evolution of storytelling and performance art and tracking historical shifts in culture, society, and politics depends on understanding theater history. From classical Greece to the present, it has functioned as a medium for language development, social critique, and a tool for self-expression and social observation.

See the fact file below for more information about the History of Theater, or you can download our 36-page History of Theater worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF THEATER

• Analyzing the historical development of theater provides an essential window into human civilization, highlighting social, political, and cultural developments across time.
• The theater was a vital component of the festivities commemorating the deity Dionysus in ancient Greece.
• Even now, people are moved by the plays of well-known authors like Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes. 
• Tragic and comedic genres gained popularity as they were considered over various subjects, including politics, mythology, and social conventions.
• Pantomime and fantastic spectacles were added, although Roman Theater mostly preserved Greek tradition. 
• Nevertheless, the decline of the Roman Empire signaled the commencement of the fall of theater.
• Morality plays and religious performances brought art back to life throughout the Middle Ages. 
• These were morality tales or biblical stories told in churches, bringing theater right to the people. 
• There was a great deal of advancement throughout the Renaissance. 
• The focus of Italian Commedia dell’arte was on group performance and improvisation. 
• Many of William Shakespeare’s plays were produced in Elizabethan England, establishing his reputation as a timeless figure. 
• Simultaneously, Spain gave rise to its theatrical siglo de oro, or “Golden Century.”
• In contrast to the previous era of stylized drama, the 18th and 19th centuries heralded the arrival of the age of “realism.” 
• Realistic depictions of life and human behavior were the goal of this new method; social themes also played a pivotal part in the dramatic action. 
• Leading dramatists in this movement were Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen.
• There were many tendencies in the 20th century, ranging from “absurdism” to “Epic Theater.” 
• The former, embodied by authors like Samuel Beckett, depicted the aimlessness and unpredictability of existence. 
• Bertolt Brecht supported the latter, which fused inventive theatrical methods with a political goal.
• Mainly a 20th and 21st-century invention, Musical Theater gained prominence, especially in America, where Broadway came to represent the genre. 
• Theater in the present day is constantly changing, fusing many genres and bringing contemporary technologies to audiences in fresh and creative ways.

TERMINOLOGY

Some key terms that are important in the history of Theater include:

COMEDY AND TRAGEDY	Essential forms with Greek roots.
DRAMA	A poem or prose that uses action and conversation to tell a story about conflicts and emotions.
SATYR PLAY	A type of tragicomedy, a parody based on myths, performed during Greek festivals with a chorus of satyrs.
FARCE	An absurdist comedic style distinguished by heightened humor and implausible circumstances.
MELODRAMA	A dramatic piece that emphasizes characters and plots to evoke strong feelings in the audience.
NATURALISM / REALISM	Movements showcase performances and stories that are authentic to life.
AMPHITHEATER	A vast, open-air facility with levels of seating encircling a central stage utilized for sporting events, entertainment, and performances.
CATHARSIS	According to Aristotle, catharsis is the process of releasing powerful or suppressed emotions and finding comfort, primarily via artistic expression.
BLOCKING	The exact placement and movement of performers on a stage to make the performance more accessible.
COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE	A 16th-century Italian improvised theater style distinguished by masks and stock characters.
HUBRIS	Extreme pride or confidence that, in classical tragedies, frequently results in a character’s downfall.
VERISIMILITUDE	The impression of being accurate or genuine frequently used in plays to portray reality convincingly.
EXPRESSIONISM	A movement in art that presents the world through a subjective lens and manipulates it to evoke ideas or feelings.
THEATRICAL CONVENTIONS	Particular approaches or strategies employed in theater, such as presentational acting, in-the-round (arena theater) acting, and different staging techniques like a proscenium in the round.

Relevant to the study of theatrical arts, these terms have persisted throughout the ages of Theater, from antiquity to the present.

GREEK THEATER

• Greek Theater, which originated in the 5th century BC, the Golden Age of Athens, was an essential part of religious festivals honoring Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and good times. 
• The first type, called a dithyramb, was a kind of choral hymn in which groups of men, usually fifty or more, sang or narrated stories about the adventures of Dionysus.
• Aeschylus was influential in the progress of Greek Theater due to his introduction of dialogue between two players, which deviated from the prior reliance on the chorus. 
• This added a dramatic element to the performances and made it possible to tell more intricate stories.
• Another well-known author, Sophocles, included a third actor and minimized the chorus’s significance to emphasize character growth and interaction. 
• Tragedies that explore societal norms, fate, and individual accountability include “Antigone” and “Oedipus the King.”
• A well-known tragedian who challenged conventional wisdom was Euripides, who focused on his characters’ motivations and inner lives.
• His tragedies, such as “Medea” and “The Bacchae,” exposed the limitations of human comprehension and the problems with heavenly justice.
• However, in the comic subgenre, Aristophanes was well-known. Shakespeare’s satirical comedies, including “The Frogs” and “Lysistrata,” frequently criticized Athens’s political, social, and intellectual establishments.
• Greek Theater also incorporated technological advancements. 
• For instance, donning masks allowed actors to play various roles and communicate their voices more effectively. 
• Choral concerts were staged in a circular dancing area called the orchestra.
• Greek theaters were often constructed outside to benefit from a hillside’s natural acoustics. 
• The most famous is the Epidaurus Theater, which has excellent acoustics. 
• Greek Theater greatly influenced the world stage and established the groundwork for Western playwriting with themes like bravery, honor, power, the gods, destiny, and the essence of good and evil.

TYPES OF GREEK THEATER

Greek Theater may be broadly classified into three primary categories: comedies, satire plays, and tragedies.

• Tragedy
  • Tragedies are a prominent feature of Greek Theater. 
  • They started as choral songs, or dithyrambs, to Dionysus and evolved into complex dramas dealing with grief, loss, and moral dilemmas. 
  • Famous Greek tragedians include Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles. They created several well-known works, including “Oedipus Rex,” “Antigone,” and “Medea.” 
• Comedy
  • Social and political satire was a common feature of Greek Theater. 
  • These plays made fun of politicians, society conventions, and other aspects of Greek life. 
  • In the comedy genre, Aristophanes was a well-known writer who wrote plays including “The Clouds” and “Lysistrata.”
• Satyr Plays
  • These brief comedies were presented at festivals between the somber tragedies trilogy. 
  • They often included choruses of Greek mythological satyrs, half-goat, half-human beings that offered a lighthearted reprieve from the tragedies’ serious subjects. 
  • Currently, the only complete satyr drama is Euripides’ “Cyclops.”

TERMS USED IN GREEK THEATER

Some commonly used terms in Greek Theater include:

• Orchestra: The circular area where the chorus performs during a musical performance.
• Theatron: The designated space where the audience sits.
• Skene: The structure behind the stage served as a space for actors to change their costumes.
• Proscenium: The space in front of the skene is designated for performers to perform on stage.
• Chorus: An ensemble of performers who provided commentary on the central events of the play, typically through the mediums of song and dance.
• Deus ex machina: A narrative technique in which a divine being or an external entity intervenes to settle a convoluted plot.

ROMAN THEATER

• Greek Theater gave rise to Roman Theater, which combined many customs with original ideas.
• Greek Theater greatly influenced Roman Theater but was modified to fit Roman customs and preferences. 
• Together, these elements created a theatrical style that was uniquely Roman, complete with pantomime and ornate spectacle plays called naumachia that portrayed naval combat.
• In the late third and early second century BC, plays were famous in Rome, thanks in part to the popularity of Plautus and Terence’s writings. 
• Plautus gained fame for his absurd comedies, but Terence grew to be respected for his more nuanced, character-driven works.
• Greek theaters were mainly made of wood, while Roman theaters were architectural wonders made of stone or concrete, which made it possible to create massive, permanent theatrical structures. 
• Completed in 55 BC, the Theater of Pompey in Rome is perhaps the most famous example of Roman Theater.
• When building their theater, the Romans used their engineering and building skills to create freestanding buildings, unlike the Greeks, who constructed them into the hillsides to support the seats. 
• The theaters could hold bigger crowds—up to 15,000 people at a time—and were usually semicircular with higher stages.
• The employment of masks, which the Romans adopted from the Greeks but altered to allow for better acoustics and appearance changes, was another essential component of Roman Theater.
• Enslaved men or freedmen comprised most of the actors in Roman Theater.
• The employment of masks, which the Romans adopted from the Greeks but altered to allow for better acoustics and appearance changes, was another essential component of Roman Theater. 
• Enslaved men or freedmen comprised most of the actors in Roman Theater.
• However, the theater also fell at the same time as the Roman Empire.
• Newly formed Christian communities criticized it for having a morally corrosive effect. 
• Despite its final decline, Roman Theater had a lasting influence on Theater, especially on Middle Age and Renaissance theatrical traditions.
• Theatrical and architectural traditions from Roman Theater served as a significant influence on contemporary Theater. 
• Modern Theater techniques are influenced by the Romans’ use of an elevated stage, ornate scenery, and more realistic performing approaches.

TYPES OF ROMAN THEATER

Three categories of Roman Theater exist: the Fabula Palliata, the Fabula Togata, and the Fabula Atellana.

• Fabula Palliata
  • The Greek cloak, or pallium, is called a palliata. Greek Theater significantly impacted this kind of play, mostly comprised of Roman plays placed in a Greek setting or adaptations of Greek plays. 
  • Leading writers of this kind were Plautus and Terence.
• Fabula Togata
  • Based on the Roman toga, these plays were titled “togata” and were performed in Roman settings. 
  • Usually, comedies addressed social concerns, household matters, and humorous scenarios in Roman culture. 
  • Famous playwrights in this genre were Titinius and Afranius.
• Fabula Atellana
  • These were comic, slapstick comedies that originated in Rome. Known as Atellan Farces, these little plays used stock characters. 
  • Typically, the stories were inspired by myths, everyday life, or more general social and political commentary. 
  • A lot of these performances were spontaneous.
  • In addition to these genres, Roman Theater produced grandiose mock naval battles known as naumachia and more visually spectacular plays like pantomimes and mimes. 
  • They delighted in broad humor and tragedy, often entwined with suspense, narrative twists, spectacle, and grandeur.

TERMS USED IN ROMAN THEATER

Some commonly used terms in Roman Theater include:

• Cavea: The elevated seating section of Roman theaters, like the Greek theatron.
• Scaenae frons: Refers to the ornately adorned permanent background of the Roman stage.
• Vomitorium: Refers to passages behind or beneath the cavea, allowing the audience to enter and escape.
• Pulpitum: Refers to the stage of a Roman theater.
• Ludi: Public spectacles that encompassed theater presentations.
• Persona: The masks that actors wore to represent the roles of their characters.

SHAKESPEAREAN THEATER

• Shakespearean Theater, often called Elizabethan Theater, was the English Theater during the period when William Shakespeare’s plays were performed, from 1562 to 1642.
• Shakespeare’s range of work and its profound impact on the day’s drama make his contributions to the age and its effects essential. 
• He composed historical dramas, comedies, and tragedies that deftly explored complex subjects like betrayal, power, love, and societal norms. 
• The public’s interest in and involvement with theater increased due to this variety in genre, especially among the middle and lower classes.
• The Globe Theater, established in 1599 and renowned for its numerous Shakespearean productions, stands as the most well-known Shakespearean Theater.  
• The theater was outdoors and had a huge platform stage that reached into the crowd, allowing more meaningful engagement between the audience and the artists. The Globe Theater could accommodate 3,000 people.
• As women were not permitted on stages, men and boys played all roles in Shakespeare’s Theater, including those of women. 
• With little stage adornment, the players had to rely on costumes, props, and vocal skills to convey distinct personas and emotions.
• Shakespearean language gave the depth and melody of the play because of its inventive poetry and iambic pentameter. 
• He enhanced it by adding new words and phrases to the English language, many of which are still used today.
• Lastly, the political and social milieu of the time had a significant impact on Shakespearean Theater.
• It examined the conflicts of a more complicated society, mirrored the ideals of the Renaissance, and sometimes made subtle jabs at the monarchy and religious dogma.
• Shakespearean Theater is still held in high respect today because of its eloquent language, creative narrative, complex characters, and examination of timeless topics. 
• His plays are still staged and studied worldwide, and they had a significant impact on the evolution of modern Theater.

TYPES OF SHAKESPEAREAN THEATER

• The plays that are performed define which categories Shakespearean Theater belongs to. 
• Most of these categories consist of Comedies, Tragedies, and Histories.

• Comedies
  • A happy ending, love triangles, misidentifications, miscommunications, and clever servants are common elements in Shakespearean comedies. 
  • Among the classic works of literature are “As You Like It,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Much Ado About Nothing.”
• Tragedies
  • In these plays, the protagonist’s demise is caused by a fatal defect in their character. 
  • Tragic events, betrayal, and death are common themes. 
  • Among them are “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Histories
  • These plays depict political disputes, power struggles, and power dynamics by drawing on the lives of English monarchs. 
  • Even though they had historical roots, they were often staged for maximum impact. 
  • “Richard III,” “Henry IV,” and “Henry V” are a few of them.
• Problem plays or romances 
  • These include a range of components and tones that don’t easily fall into the previously mentioned categories. 
  • These include such pieces as “The Tempest,” “Measure for Measure,” and “The Winter’s Tale.” 
  • These plays deal with more mature or complex subjects, and their “romances” often include magical aspects, shipwrecks, and unforgettable reunions or resurrections.

TERMS USED IN SHAKESPEAREAN THEATER

Some commonly used terms in Shakespearean Theater include:

• Groundlings: The spectators who occupied the ground area in front of the stage due to having purchased the least expensive tickets.
• Thrust stage: A stage that protrudes into the audience on three sides.
• Tiring house: Refers to the theater section that housed the actors’ dressing rooms, similar to the Greek skene.
• Soliloquy: A monologue in which characters express their inner thoughts, usually alone on stage.
• Aside: A concise comment made by a character meant to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THEATER

• Theater provides a medium for manifesting cultural principles, customs, and conflicts, fostering communities to contemplate their past and identity.
• It is a highly effective teaching and learning tool. 
• It has the potential to animate literary masterpieces and historical events, offering fresh viewpoints and a more profound comprehension of intricate ideas.
• Theater frequently engages with political, social, and ethical matters, prompting spectators to contemplate cultural conventions and initiate conversations about current events.
• It offers artists and spectators a medium to articulate their emotions. 
• It has the potential to elicit a variety of feelings, such as joy and sorrow, and can act as a therapeutic process.
• Participants can augment their communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking proficiencies.
• Theater significantly influences a community’s economy by generating employment opportunities, drawing visitors, and stimulating local expenditure. 
• Immersing oneself in characters’ experiences, backgrounds, and traditions fosters empathy and comprehension.
• The artistic and innovative aspects of theater, encompassing both the production and the acting, can stimulate creativity in a person or a broader community.

History of Theater Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the History of Theater across 36 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the History of Theater. Understanding the evolution of storytelling and performance art and tracking historical shifts in culture, society, and politics depends on understanding theater history. From classical Greece to the present, it has functioned as a medium for language development, social critique, and a tool for self-expression and social observation.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. History of Theater Facts
2. Shakespearean Word Hunt
3. Matchy Matchy
4. Greek or Roman? Part I
5. Greek or Roman? Part II
6. Fact Check
7. Greek Theater
8. Roman Theater
9. Remember Me?
10. Play! Part I
11. Play! Part II

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of theater?

Theater has ancient roots, with its origins traced back to ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE. The Greeks, particularly in Athens, developed the concept of drama and introduced the idea of plays performed in amphitheaters to entertain and educate the public.

Who were the major playwrights of Elizabethan theater in the 16th century?

During the Elizabethan era in the 16th century, the most prominent playwrights were William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson. Shakespeare, in particular, is celebrated as one of the greatest playwrights in history, with numerous enduring works like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.”

What is the significance of the Commedia dell’arte in theatrical history?

Commedia dell’arte was a form of improvisational theater that emerged in Italy during the 16th century. It featured stock characters, masked performances, and improvised dialogue. This form of theater greatly influenced the development of Western comedy and laid the groundwork for the emergence of professional acting troupes.

How did the Renaissance impact theater in Europe?

The Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement spanning the 14th to the 17th centuries, had a profound impact on European theater. It led to a revival of classical Greek and Roman drama, inspiring new theatrical forms and styles. The period witnessed a surge in creativity, with playwrights exploring humanism, individualism, and diverse themes in their works.

What role did the Globe Theatre play in the history of English Renaissance theater?

The Globe Theatre, built in 1599 in London and associated with William Shakespeare, played a pivotal role in the history of English Renaissance theater. It was a significant venue for the performance of many of Shakespeare’s plays and became an iconic symbol of the era. The Globe contributed to the popularity of theater among diverse social classes and shaped the development of modern theatrical practices.

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