Introduction.

For my extended project i have decided to create a timeline and discuss in depth how theatre has changed between Greek theatre (550 bc) to modern time (2011 ad). I will produce a detailed analysis of seven types of theatre and the practionars associated with those types of theatre and will use images and videos to create my artifact.

They types of theatre i will be analysing are.

• Greek theatre (tragedy, comedy and satyr plays)
• Restoration theatre.
• Comedia-del-arte (slapstick humour)
• Theatre of Cruelty.
• Epic theatre (morality plays)

Greek theatre (550-220bc)

Greek theatre flourished between 550 - 220 BC. In centralised in the city of athens which also became a huge political cultural and military influence during since time. Greek theatre consisted of three types of play;

• Satyr plays. (tragicomedys)
• Comedys.
• Tragedies.

Satyr plays were much like tragedies in the respec that they were based on epic or mythology and the action was tragic but they were portrayed in a humourous way to combine elements of greek tragedy aswell as comedys. These plays origionated from the called the Dionysia , which honoured the god Dionysus, the festival would start with the sacrafice of a goat. During this festival the citizens of greece would watch greek tragedys writen by famous play writes of this time such as Thespis and Sophocles for example the play Antigone was a very famous greek tragedy writen by sophocles. The festival would last 5 days. 
the festival required each playwrite to submit three tragedies and one satyr play.

Greek tragedies also derived from the festival of dionysia and there was three main playwrite each performing there three tragedy plays and on satyr plays each on a consecutive day. the playwrites were  Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. in these plays the actors would all be male and would all where large masks so there expressions could be seen by everyone in the audience as the theatres were very large (sometimes the actors would even be on stilts to make themselves look larger). the plays involved a chorus of people which sung there respones to the actors and this is where the word (chour) derived from.

Greek comedys,

This is a digram of the layout of the greek theatre, they were many placed on the top of a hill and all greek citizens (even women) would be allowed to attend the plays.

Epic theatre (1950-Current times)

Epic theatre began during the 20th century and was founded by the famous practioner Bertholt Brecht. although alot of the techniques brecht introduced during epic theatre had been around and used long before he used them, Brecht was the one that unified them. developed the style, and popularized it.

The main goal of epic theatre is to alienate the audience so that they are constantly aware they are watching a play and not believe its real at all. Brecht did this by using placards and breaking forth wall.

Alot of Epic theatre plays were morality plays as another aim of this style of theatre was to leave the audience thinking and asking themselves questions about the morals and issues raised in the plays. Churches often produced these plays to make people conform to there religions, one of the most common morality plays was "Everyman"

Theatre of Cruelty (1900-current time)

Was founded by Antonin Artaud who was born in 1896. Artaud spoke of cruelty not in the sense of violent behaviour, but rather the cruelty it takes for actors to show an audience a truth that they do not wish to see.
Artaud thought that society and the world of theatre had become an empty shell. In the Theatre of Cruelty, he was trying to revolutionize theatre. He wanted to scare and shock his audiences into leaving the theatre with complex dilemas in their minds so that they would question their own beliefs and morals and perhaps change themselve for the better.

Comedia Dell'arte (1550-1621)

Comedia Dell'arte translates into "Comedy or craft", it is a form of theatre that began in italy in the mid 16th century. its performance are based of small scenarios or sketchs that along with the use of stock characters, large gestures and masks create a very slapstick style of humour.

While to be true Commedia the actors improvise around a pre-determined plot using stock characters as a guide, the works of several playwrights have been influenced by Commedia dell'arte if not directly featuring it. The most famous of which is "Servant of Two Masters" written in 1743 by Carlo Goldoni.

Other people influenced by Comedia arte are people such as Charlie Chaplin.

Commedia dell'arte has three main stock roles: servant, master, and innamorati. The servants are referred to as the Zanni and include characters such as Arlecchino, Brighella and Pedrolino. Some more well known characters are, Arlecchino and Pantalone.

Restoration theatre (1660-1710)

in 1642 public stage performances were banned during the puritan ragime. in 1660 they reopened and this signalled a renaissance of english theatre. Restoration was the most common of the dramas and the performances were mostly comedic. Restoration dramas were notorious for their sexual references and this quality was encouraged personally by charles the 2nd.

 The audiences included both aristocrats, their servants and hangers-on, and a substantial middle-class segment. These playgoers were attracted to the comedies by up-to-the-minute topical writing, by crowded and bustling plots.

This period saw the first proffesional female playwrite and her name was Aphra Behn.

Evaluation.

Between greek theatre and modern theatre there has been alot of different types and styles of performances dramas and theatre. Their has also been many practioners that have influences these. i have analysed the five main styles but found it was nearly impossible to create a timeline as they all overlap one another and some are still around now and have dated back for hundreds of years.