The honour of inaugurating the theatre is ascribed to one man, Thespis. Thespis is synonymous with acting; 'The Thespian Art,' just as 'Robes Of Thespis' means theatrical costume. He was the leader of the dithyrambic chorus. Thespis is said to have travelled from Icaria, his birthplace, with his chorus, carrying his belongings on a cart whose floor and tailboard could form an improvised stage.
In the course of his wanderings from one festival to another he eventually reached Athens where he was the first to win accolades at the newly established dramatic festival; the City Dionysia.
Thespis had the ability of detaching himself from the chorus and engage in a dialogue with the person playing the part of the god or hero. He was thus the first actor as well as the first manager. He was the first unsanctified person who dared to assume the character of a god, which was only the prerogative of priests or kings, who by virtue of their office were already partly deified.
Thespis flourished in acting and created ways to transform the art. He thought that the most important feature of the actors costume was the mask which he introduced. Even today the comedy and tradegy masks are symbolic in acting.
Masks were made in light wood, cork or linen, enabling the three actors in a tragedy to play several parts, including playing women. Thespis played many roles in his life and those roles define the standard to the world's greatest actors in theatre and film.
w22 In the course of his wanderings from one festival to another he eventually reached Athens where he was the first to win accolades at the newly established dramatic festival; the City Dionysia.
Thespis had the ability of detaching himself from the chorus and engage in a dialogue with the person playing the part of the god or hero. He was thus the first actor as well as the first manager. He was the first unsanctified person who dared to assume the character of a god, which was only the prerogative of priests or kings, who by virtue of their office were already partly deified.
Thespis flourished in acting and created ways to transform the art. He thought that the most important feature of the actors costume was the mask which he introduced. Even today the comedy and tradegy masks are symbolic in acting.
Masks were made in light wood, cork or linen, enabling the three actors in a tragedy to play several parts, including playing women. Thespis played many roles in his life and those roles define the standard to the world's greatest actors in theatre and film.
