Roman Theatre

Roman theatre is divided in two large block of political history

Ruler: Julias Caesar

Romans were famous for all kinds of entrainment which they enjoyed at the same time they attended theatrical presentations.

Romans drama: tragedy and comedy

Atellan Farce was one of the many forms replacing comedy!

Romans mime:

  • Gymnastics

  • Juggling

  • Songs

  • Dances

Roman pantomime:

  • Ballet

  • Chorus

  • Musical accompanists

  • single dancer (mythological, historical)

Roman Ludi were official religions festival rather than honor one god at the events they honored many festivals

Ludi Romani

First major Roman festival to incorporate theatre

Dedicated to the god Jupiter - the Roman equivalent to Zeus's

The only three Roman playwrights have survived

  1. Plautus

  2. Terrence

  3. Seneca

Plautus

Most popular of all the comic writers

Two of his famous plays

  • The Menaechmi

  • Miles Glorious

Terence

Possibly the first known playwrights of African decent

Famous play

  • The Brothers

The Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius wrote a ten volume work De Architecture

The scene house/ Three types of Scenery

  • Tragic

  • Comic

  • Satyric

Acting

Actors were called