The origin of the Greek tragedy is shrouded in mystery - a lack of reliable sources and primary evidence rendering the pinpointing of its genesis essentially impossible. However, it is known that the first Greek drama to be labelled as a 'tragedy' was staged during the festival of Dionysia in 534BC. The actor, Thespis, was the first man to play a part, instead of speaking as himself, which was until then the standard. Most Greek tragedies begin with a prologue to set the scene, before moving into an opening song. After this, the story begins and unfolds episodically, broken up by more songs. The play concludes with an 'exodus' of the players as they leave the stage. The tragedies, according to Aristotle, were a form of catharsis, born out of a "noble and complete" action (the play itself) so that the viewer may "purify their passions".
