| The three main genres of theatre; comedy, tragedy | | | | theatres, where people enjoy London theatre breaks in |
| and satyr also emerged in Athens, paving the way for | | | | luxury. |
| theatre to come. Western theatre originated from this | | | | Ancient Greek theatre used to also include a backdrop |
| fascinating city and top London shows still incorporate | | | | or a scenic wall. It was common for death scenes to |
| the theatrical ideas of Greek Theatre. | | | | take place behind this screen, as it was seen |
| A fabulous art form, many still flock to London to enjoy | | | | inappropriate to perform a death in front of the |
| theatre breaks which includes tickets to one of the | | | | audience. Actors also used to pop behind the screen |
| many fantastic London shows on offer. The | | | | to change their costumes. A backdrop is still used in |
| ever-increasing range of technological devises mean | | | | London shows today and often changes a number of |
| that theatre is quite different from what it used to be, | | | | times. With all the blood and guts on TV today, |
| however, many of the fundamental ideas connected | | | | however, audiences would not be offended by a |
| to theatre are the same. | | | | re-enactment of a death on stage. |
| So, the next time you enjoy a theatre break, sit back | | | | The actors and chorus used to enter through a |
| and think how the Greeks might have done things. | | | | parodoi and exit through the eisodoi. Although knowing |
| The centre point of a Greek theatre was a | | | | where to enter and exit the stage is not exactly brain |
| semi-circular space called the orchestra and this would | | | | surgery, it is a simple and necessary technique which is |
| be where the action took place. It was often built at | | | | often used today. They even used to used trapdoors - |
| the bottom of a hill so that the audience could see the | | | | a theatrical technique still incorporated into many |
| show from a range of inclines. Theatres constructed in | | | | shows. |
| London are also built on different levels, so that many | | | | The Ancient Greeks were also very much into masks, |
| people can fit into a small space and enjoy London | | | | known in Greek as personas. The chorus - who help |
| shows with ease. | | | | the audience know what a character is thinking - often |
| A trip to the theatre wouldn't be fun if you could not | | | | wore elaborate masks to represent a character. |
| hear what was going on, so mathematics and design | | | | Masks are still used in theatre today, however, they |
| were crucial in creating the perfect acoustics in Greek | | | | are not as common in the West End. |
| theatre. Apparently the acoustics of ancient Greek | | | | You may have heard of the phrase "sock and buskin". |
| theatres rival those in the UK today which would have | | | | This originated from Ancient Greece when actors with |
| been important, as they did not have the technology to | | | | tragic roles wore boots that elevated them above |
| amplify sound. London shows today use microphones | | | | other actors and actors with comedic roles wore thin |
| and great sound effects, so do not have to rely on the | | | | soled shoes called socks. Comedy and tragedy were |
| natural acoustics of a building to be top notch. If you | | | | very distinguished genres, along with satyr shows. |
| book a London theatre break to Sister Act or Mamma | | | | Today, different styles of shows are represented in a |
| Mia! you won't leave upset that you could not hear the | | | | whole range of ways. |
| songs. | | | | Theatre has been a form of entertainment for many |
| In ancient Greece, the audience used to sit on the | | | | years and is still entertaining audiences in the West |
| ground, before wooden seats were introduced. | | | | End and across the world. Book a theatre break to |
| Eventually they began inlaying stone blocks into the hill | | | | London today to enjoy the excitement of Theatreland. |
| which were called prohedria reserved for priests and | | | | London shows are truly astounding and a great way |
| respected members of the community. I guess these | | | | to spend time in the city. |
| are the same as the boxes you see in London | | | | |