Antigone Presentation Notes

The Text in Performance: Space, time, and staging considerations

(mise-en-scene), main aesthetic

Time and Space

Space
● Amphi theatres -
○ Theatres were outside [natural], however they were built
with a structure that still allowed sound to be reflected, so the
actor/s could have been heard clearly
○ Performed during the day since they didn’t have lights at the
time
○ Actors would go behind the skene for scenes involving
blood/murder - death was scene as something horrid and a
sort of pollution for the greeks
■ When Antigone hangs herself and Haemon dies, they
would have been behind the skene
■ Antigone takes place in front of the palace of Thebes

For Greek theatre, the space they used was whatever

they needed it to be. If Antigone takes place in front of
the palace in Thebes, then that is what the space was for
that time. - Therefore the space changed according to
what the community needed for that performance, even
though the physical space does not change.
[Oedipus took place here as well], whereas Oedipus at
Colonus does not, therefore the space would change in
terms of what is needed.
● One could say it reflects the society, since the Greeks
seemed quite social. One would imagine in front of the
palace would be quite social, therefore it is set there.
● The fact they interacted with the audience already
shows they were quite social, so would their space be -
circular space implying community and unity
Time : play would have been performed during the day,
along with ‘Oedipus Rex’ and ‘Oedipus at Colonus’ at
Dionysus Festival
● Greek tragedy usually takes place in 24 hrs
 ○ We can see by this that a lot happens in 24 hours in Greek
plays, perhaps due to this ‘norm’ in the plays
○ Antigone’s brother dies, Creon says he will not be buried,
Antigone quickly decides to disobey Creon, Creon punishes
Antigone, she hangs herself
Aesthetics
● Masks and costumes
Masks were usually worn to help further help amplify the
sound of the actors’ voices, as well as make it more visually
clear for the audience. (so did the costumes)

These masks covered most of the face besides the eyes and
mouth, for the actors to be able to see and speak

The masks usually showed a particular emotion, in a tragedy

they would have naturally been more serious

Therefore facial expression was only present in the mask,

Greek actors couldn’t work with it since their face was covered, so
they had to work with their bodies and voices, rather than faces.

Ancient paintings never showed actors wearing the masks,

just them handling the masks before and after performances.

Once could argue that this is due to the fact that they did not
differentiate the actor from the theatrical character, but as though
they were one. - Interesting since one or two actors would
basically be the only actors for plays of the time

Since females weren’t allowed to be actors or attend these

performances, there were different costumes showing women and
men.
Female characters (played by male actors) would be wearing
a ‘prosterneda’ imitating breasts (Antigone, Isemene) and
progastreda in front of their stomach
Actors playing tragic roles wore boots (cothurneses) that
elevated him above the actors - Antigone
 Some authors argue that costumes in Athenian tragedy was
standardized for the genre
Full length or short tunic, a cloak and soft leather boots -
possibly derived from the robes of Dionysian priests or maybe from
Aeschylus
[Costumes could show gender and social status]
Little info off on costumes is due to ancient pottery