What was the Importance/significance of Theatre in Ancient Greek society?

Theatre in Ancient Greece was popularized in Athens around
550 B.C Theater was an important part of the cultural festival of Dionysian. Dionysus
was the Greek god of grape harvest, and wine, and served as a symbol of pleasure and
ecstasy within Greek culture. Theater was an important part of this festival, and
represented its climax.

Greek theater served as an
important tool by which cultural exchange could take place. Plays commonly referenced
important, political, social, cultural and religious themes. They offered new views and
asked thought provoking questions, and helped to form what we have come to know as the
philosophical and moral base of Greek culture.

Doing so
with the use of what were at the time novel theatric devices such as, costumes, masks,
staging, acting, singing, and sarcasm.