"Thespis"

Thespis is traditionally regarded as the first Greek actor and is often credited with inventing drama as a formal theatrical art. Living around 534 BCE, he introduced the concept of a single performer stepping out from the chorus to speak lines and portray a character, marking the beginning of dialogue-driven storytelling in theater. This shift from choral chanted poetry to individual acting laid the foundation for Western theatrical traditions. As a result, Thespis is sometimes called the "father of actors" and his innovation is celebrated during the annual Greek festival, the Dionysia.