How Ritual Evolved Into Theater

The origins of theater may be traced back to religious ceremonies. Many ceremonial

components, like clothes, cosmetics, and music, were incorporated into the rituals.

For example, The beginnings of Greek theater can be traced back to religious rituals to

worship their gods, the most notable Greek deity Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and

revelry. The dithyramb was formed in Greece in the 6th century BCE, and it was the first

time theater liberated itself from religious ritual to become an art form. This was a type

of choral hymn that was sung at festivals in honor of Dionysus. The chorus performed

two important ceremonies that took place twice a year in the city of Athens.

References:

Western theatre | Definition, History, Plays, Characteristics, Examples, & Facts. (1999,
August 9). Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/art/Western-theatre/Ancient-Greece

Introduction to Theatre -- Origins of Theatre. (n.d.).

https://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/spd130et/origins.htm