Theatre

In honour of Dionysus an ancient Greek chorus sang hymns in front of the temple and as dialogue developed between the chorus and a masked soloist, and dance became action we may have seen the genesis of drama. The stories or poems recited or sung by Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey) and the like were the Greek foundation of dramatic story telling. Soon these combined and moved to specially built amphitheatres. Greek theatre flourished as did similar tale telling later in Rome. Probably even earlier in Egypt the solemn chants and processions in honour of the gods inspired the Greeks and other foreign civilisations. No doubt prior to that the earliest religious ceremonies grew around the central divine fire and as stories of the hunt and the gods and their interactions with mankind became more sophisticated so did the need to transmit that understanding to the illiterate populous. Orators and public representations told tales of the gods and the heroes to inspire, instruct, unify and control. Tales of the famous, satires of the ruling elite and bawdy titillation also grew in popular acceptance. How theatrical is the image of priests in special costumes, gods or their representatives draped in jewels and ribbons, processions, props, fire and incense and the accompaniment of music and chants praising the acts of the divine. The Satyr Play (above left) was one of the earliest examples of drama (or tragedy). The followers of Dionysus dressed as satyrs and sang songs of his exploits. The actor in the costume of the Satyr, which is half goat, was called the ‘tragos’ (goat in Greek), and the song is called the ‘tragodia’ (goat song).

Comedy on the other hand draws it’s name from the procession of revellers that accompanied the phallus in Dionysiac festivals and reflected the banter that was exchanged amongst them and also with the spectators. ‘komos’ means procession of revellers and the Greek for comedy is ‘komoidia’ or komos singing, i.e. of phallic songs. So comedy essentially means, in a crude modern idiom, ‘dick jokes’. See the comic slaves (above right) and note the accentuated padded phallus.

The Satyr Play (above left) was one of the earliest examples of drama (or tragedy). The followers of Dionysus dressed as satyrs and sang songs of his exploits. The actor in the costume of the Satyr, which is half goat, was called the ‘tragos’ (goat in Greek), and the song is called the ‘tragodia’ (goat song). Comedy on the other hand draws it’s name from the procession of revellers that accompanied the phallus in Dionysiac festivals and reflected the banter that was exchanged amongst them and also with the spectators. ‘komos’ means procession of revellers and the Greek for comedy is ‘komoidia’ or komos singing, i.e. of phallic songs. So comedy essentially means, in a crude modern idiom, ‘dick jokes’. See the comic slaves (above right) and note the accentuated padded phallus.

It is said that Sophocles invented scene painting as a backdrop for the actors in the fifth century BC. Aeschylus is reported to have installed lavish decorations, mechanical devices, tombs, altars and produced startling apparitions. In the Roman period some theatre scenes became extraordinary as in the illustration found at Herculaneum (left) This over the top decoration was a fashion not always approved of. 

Today sets are often extraordinary, sometimes simple and often governed by a budget. Taste varies and the theatrical experience can bring out diversity in attitudes. I tend to enjoy a 'big' production, but a show with no set and a clever use of lighting can be many times more dramatic as it focuses on the subconscious emotional response to dramatically pinpointed aspects that illuminate the story.

Below are some sets painted by a wonderfully talented friend for various companies throughout this country and some international productions.

After the fall of the Roman empire theatre disappeared until many centuries later a similar thing emerged again in front of the Christian Churches of Europe and England, as at first, parables were enacted for instruction of the faithful and then broadened for sheer entertainment. Once again the balance of religious edification, crude tales of maidens deflowered and the nobles and clergy represented in farce stood side by side. Drama and Comedy developed hand in hand from the beginning.

The Greeks were the first to build permanent theatres specifically for the enactment of plays and in Europe, when liturgical drama resumed, it soon led from in front of the church doors to a stage in the market place and as they moved into taverns they found they could charge admission which soon saw specific constructions rising for the sole purpose of story telling.

Of course I have a dream that when I win or acquire some significant wealth I will build my own theatre and put aside some millions as a trust to pay to run the theatre so that it can have free access to all the amateur theatre groups here in Brisbane and some special performance people. I would want to encourage edgy, physical, gay or classical performances. Music, dance, nudity and fabulous ideas would be welcome and encouraged. Being free the creative minds could afford to be daring. This would do a lot to encouraging sparks of genius. I have even sketched what I want it to look like. It seems to have a cross between Australian corrugated iron roof and the shape of a pagoda.
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Do you recognise the photos? They are some of the greats I have seen live on stage over the years. Wonderful performances here, throughout Australia and in London. They all have a story and all are great memories for me.
Some Legends I Have Seen Live On Stage

I did actually meet Glenda Jackson in Sydney after a gripping performance of Hedda Gabler. I and a friend Jeanne (a French boy) walked past the stage door and a very gruff security person asked 'Do you want to see Miss Jackson?' to which we whispered timidly 'Yes'. 'OK' he says 'Go on down the hall'. For 15 minutes or so she sat at a mirror removing her make-up while we chatted. She was gracious and I felt like a nervous fool.

There are musicians and the just famous of various types listed elsewhere.

“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” Oscar Wilde