... playwrights competed for top prizes. Roman Romans borrowed extensively from Greek theatre and then modified it. They too worshipped gods in festivals - Dionysus was not one of their gods but perhaps they used the idea to worship their own gods. Also many Romans had nothing to do and so theatre was needed for entertainment. Treatment of character, plot and language. Greek Chorus and their leader, lines chanted rather than spoken. Used masks and high-soled boots to add height to the actors. Limited movements. Comedies put on at winter festival of god Dionysus and grew more popular during the decline of the Greek government. Tragedies put on at main spring festival. Theatre also used as a place for political debate. Roman Comedies and tragedies, pantomime, myths. Comedies - actors wore masks for this. They were usually short, one-act plays put on at the end of longer performances. They were vulgar farces about Italian country life, packed with ...

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