Thespies
Thespies was an ancient Greek tragedian, born in Athens in the 6th century BCE. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of theatre, often credited with inventing tragedy as a distinct dramatic form. Before Thespies, dramatic performances were primarily religious rituals or recitations of epic poetry. Thespies is said to have been the first to step out from the chorus and engage in dialogue with the chorus leader, effectively creating the first individual actor. This innovation allowed for the development of character and narrative in a way that had not been seen before.
His contributions are primarily known through later accounts by writers such as Aristotle. The exact nature