The earliest origins of drama are to be found in Athens where ancient hymns, called dithyrambs, were sung in honor of the god Dionysus. One of these, the ‘City Dionysia’, featured competitions in music, singing, dance and poetry.
Then came Téspis, a figure of great importance for the emergence of Western theater. This man participated in one of these rituals when, at one point, he decided to wear a mask and say that he was the god Dionysus himself, thus initiating a dialogue with the “choir”. The boldness of such an act recognized Téspis as the “creator of the theater” and the first actor and theater producer.
The Ancient Greeks not only invented theater itself, but they also created multiple genres, including comedy, tragedy, and satire. Each of these entertained audiences in Athens and then spread throughout Greece.
Modern theater came to Turkish literature in the Tanzimat Period, with Şinasi writing the play "Poet’s Marriage" and adaptations by Ahmet Vefik Pasha from works by Moliere. While modern theater was being established, elements of traditional theater were also used.
Theatrical tradition arose simultaneously in different cultures, resulting in Indian theater (Brahmanic), Chinese theater, and theater of Greek antiquity. The Greeks are considered initiators of the theatrical tradition in the West, where "dramatic art" evolved from religious rituals to myth and then incorporated spoken word, becoming the first theatrical works.
As theater evolved, there was a need for larger spaces to accommodate performances and audiences, spurring the creation of sizable venues.
Broadway introduced “theatre as art” to a new level, also influencing social class distinctions. A consistent theme in American theatre is Realism, a concept that has its roots in the Roman era but gained prominence during the Renaissance and later periods.