Greek theatre · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Greek theatre

History · Ancient Greece & Rome · ages 7-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What are the two types of plays the Greeks performed?

    • Tragedies and comedies
    • Musicals and operas
    • Puppet shows and dances

  2. Which ancient people invented theatre?

    • The Romans
    • The Greeks
    • The Egyptians

  3. Greek actors wore masks when they performed.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Where did the Greeks watch plays?

    • Inside small wooden huts
    • In large open-air amphitheatres
    • In underground caves

  5. Why did Greek actors wear masks instead of just using their faces?

    • So people far up in the seats could still tell how the character felt
    • Because the actors were shy
    • To keep their faces warm outdoors

  6. Which god were Greek theatre festivals held to honour?

    • Zeus
    • Dionysus
    • Poseidon

  7. Mia says a comedy is a play where actors do not wear masks and there are only a few people watching indoors. What is wrong with what she said?

    • Comedies were not performed by the Greeks at all
    • Nothing, she is correct
    • Comedies still used masked actors performing outdoors for large crowds

  8. Greek plays were performed purely for entertainment, with no connection to religion.

    Circle one:   True   False

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Greek theatre W1-mt_f4O__f3OU4-s1

  1. Tragedies and comedies · Tragedies told sad, serious stories, while comedies told funny ones.
  2. The Greeks · The ancient Greeks were the first to write and perform plays for an audience.
  3. True · Masks showed the audience how a character was feeling, even from far away.
  4. In large open-air amphitheatres · Amphitheatres were huge open-air stone theatres that could seat thousands of people.
  5. So people far up in the seats could still tell how the character felt · Amphitheatres held thousands of people, so masks made expressions easy to see from a distance.
  6. Dionysus · Plays were performed as part of religious festivals honouring Dionysus.
  7. Comedies still used masked actors performing outdoors for large crowds · Both tragedies and comedies used masked actors in open-air amphitheatres in front of large audiences.
  8. False · Plays were part of religious festivals honouring Dionysus, so religion and entertainment were linked together.
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