Theater is from a Greek verb meaning ‘to behold’
Theatre as we know it began in ancient Greece with a religious ceremony called ‘dithyramb’ in which a chorus of men dressed in goat skins.
The word ‘tragedy’ comes from a Greek expression meaning ‘goat song’…
…and ‘theatre’ comes from a Greek verb meaning ‘to behold’.
Ancient Greek audiences stamped their feet rather than clapping their hands to applaud
According to Aristotle, the plot is the most important feature of a dramatic performance.
The oldest play still in existence is The Persians by Aeschylus, written in 472 BC.