Staging

Knowing What's Going On

Masks and costumes were used to differentiate between the different characters.

Brown masks were for male characters, and white masks were for females. Women were actually not allow to perform, so female characters were performed by men or boys who wore white masks.

Purple gowns represented rich characters; striped togas for boys; short cloaks for soldiers; red togas for poor citizens, and short tunics for slaves.

Triangular wooden prisms called periaktoi were painted with different scenes and were located on either side of the stage.

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Actors would speak on stage while another on the side lines would mime the gestures along with background music.

Series of gestures often represented specific things. Some of these imclude feeling a pulse to represent a sick person, or making the shape of a lyre to show music.