Harman lernertheatre

Theater Architecture Timeline

  • Cavea
    450 BCE

    Cavea

    The auditorium also known as the Cavea was limited to a semicicurclar design
  • Roman Theater
    450 BCE

    Roman Theater

    Roman theater architects got most of their ideas from Greek theater. Roman theater is modified Greek theater
  • Orchestra
    450 BCE

    Orchestra

    An orchestra surrounds the theatron on three sides and is a playing area for the orchestra pit
  • Greek Theater
    401 BCE

    Greek Theater

    Fifth century B.C. was the time Greek theater became popular.
  • Skene
    401 BCE

    Skene

    In the back of the orchestra is the skene. A skene is a wall where the actors and actresses make their entrance. It also contained many rooms so the actors and actresses can fix their costumes and makeup.
  • Paraskenia
    400 BCE

    Paraskenia

    The paraskenia are very high and long walls that run parallel to the skene.
  • Machina
    400 BCE

    Machina

    A machina is a basket lowered from the second story of the theater with an actor in it. Most theaters typically used it to represent god floating.
  • Eccyclema
    400 BCE

    Eccyclema

    The eccyclema is a wheelable platform made to be able to change scenery very quickly
  • Mansions
    1250

    Mansions

    Small buildings called mansions, ironic isn't it, were used to represent biblical stories.
  • Pageant Wagons
    1250

    Pageant Wagons

    Pageant wagons were created to that the sets were very easy to move around towns.
  • Medieval Theater
    1250

    Medieval Theater

    Medieval Theater became popular and was designed for the outdoors. Therefore sets became easily transportable so the shows could move from town to town.
  • Theatron
    1500

    Theatron

    A theatron is another word for auditorium
  • Stock Sets
    1530

    Stock Sets

    Stock sets were created to have some sort of background. The stock sets were made to the theme of the performance. For example if you had a drama they would create a very dramatic stock set
  • Lighting
    1545

    Lighting

    Sebastian Serilo was the first to introduce mood lighting by getting a candle and placing them behind flasks with amber and blue colored water.
  • Teatro Olympico

    Teatro Olympico

    The Teatro Olympico was in Vicenza, Italy. It was designed based off the styles of ancient Roman theaters
  • Forced Perspective

    Forced Perspective

    Between 1580 and 1585 scaenae frons were no longer one wall but they were broke up into multiple walls to create a forced perspective.
  • Pits

    Pits

    During this time a new, and probably the most famous theater, was being built with a new concept. The platform were raised about 4 to 6 feet off the ground and pits were made. A pit is a rounded yard made for the lower class to sit in
  • Indoor theaters

    Indoor theaters

    The government in 1724 gave permission to build indoor theaters.
  • Trap Doors

    Trap Doors

    Due to the roofed indoor theaters trap doors, elevators, and revolving stages are now available.