1. When were ancient Greek plays performed? 

Between 600 and 200 BC

2. How many years ago was this?

2615 years ago 

3. What different types of plays were performed?

The three genres of drama were comedy, satyr plays, and most important of all, tragedy.

4. What is a traditional Greek Theatre called?

Amphitheatre

5. What shape was the theatre?

open air, and was usually a bowl-shaped arena on a hillside. Some theatres were very big, with room for more than 15,000 people in the audience.

7. Why were the theatres built this way?

The Greeks believed that architecture (the art of making buildings) was based on mathematical principles. They built beautiful temples. Temple roofs were held up by stone columns and decorated with friezes with carved stone figures.

8. What different scenic elements are there?

There were several scenic elements commonly used in Greek theatre:

• machina, a crane that gave the impression of a flying actor (thus, deus ex machina, meaning, 'the god from the machine').
• ekkyklema, a wheeled wagon used to bring dead characters for the audience to see
• trap doors, or similar openings in the ground to lift people onto the stage
• Pinakes, pictures hung to create scenery
• Thyromata, more complex pictures built into the second-level scene (3rd level from ground)
• Phallic props were used for satyr plays, symbolizing fertility in honor of Dionysus.

9. Who sat on the seats at the front?

Priests

10. Could women take part in, or attend the plays?

No only men and boys could perform. 

11. Name some of the Greek playwrights and their plays.

• Phrynichus (~511 BC):
  • The Fall of Miletus (c. 511 BC)
  • Phoenissae (c. 476 BC)
  • Danaides
  • Actaeon
  • Alcestis
  • Tantalus

12. What did the audience throw at the actors who performed badly?

Rotten Vegetables and would stomp instead of clap, but if they were good they would throw money.

13. What did the actors wear?

Greek actors wore masks, made from stiffened linen, with holes for eyes and mouth. Actors also wore wigs. They wore thick-soled shoes too, to make them look taller, and padded costumes to make them look fatter or stronger. The masks showed the audience what kind of character an actor was playing (sad, angry or funny). Some masks had two sides, so the actor could turn them round to suit the mood for each scene.

14. How did the audience sat at the back of the large theatre hear anything?

Because the theatre was shaped as a bowl the actors voices would be projected all the way round.

15. Who is Dionysus? 

He is the God of wine and Theatre

16. Why is he important to Greek Theatre?

He is the God of Greek theatre.

17. What is a Greek chorus? 

The Greek chorus was part of Ancient Greek theatre. It was a group of masked performers who looked alike, and spoke all at the same time. All the chorus wore identical masks, because they represented the same character or group of characters. Worn by the chorus, the masks created a sense of unity and uniformity, a kind of single organism.

18.  What purpose to the Chorus have in the performance? 

described and commented upon the main action of a play with song, dance, and recitation. 

19. How and why were masks used?

masks were able to bring the characters’ face closer to the audience, especially since they had intensely over-exaggerated facial features and expressions.

20. What were the masks made of? 
Made from stiffened linen, with holes for eyes and mouth.