An excellent handbook for whoever is looking to delve deeper into the culture and the theatre tradition that created some of the most iconic characters and plays ever written. Ewans’ insightful introduction prepares and empowers aspiring practitioners for their exploration of ancient Greek drama.

Emily Louizou, Theatre Director & Artistic Director of Collide Theatre Ltd

This is, happily, a comprehensive handbook and an excellent factotum guide for anyone thinking of trying to convey an ancient Greek comedy or tragedy on the modern stage. It is aimed squarely at the dramatic practitioner rather than the academic Classicist.

The Journal of Classics Teaching

Merging the theoretical framework with the practical elements of staging an ancient Greek play, this indispensable guide offers directors and actors an excellent starting point for mounting their production. Considering the conditions of ancient Greek performance and the conventions of the Greek theatre, the book examines large questions, including those related to ancient Greek values, myth and the individual (‘characterization’), and the gods and fate – all of which must be taken into consideration when approaching a contemporary production.This practical guide also explores with analysed examples, the issues that today's theatre-makers should consider in order to successfully stage ancient Greek drama. These topics include: - choice of translation - setting - costumes - masks - mode of delivery - acting style for both tragedy and comedy - handling of the chorus - solutions to staging Greek drama
Les mer
PrefaceNotationDatesSpellingIntroduction: Adaptation and InterpretationChapter One: The Original Conditions of Performance1.1 The Festivals of Dionysos1.2 Performance Practice1.3 The Playing Space 1.3.1 Theatron and Orchestra 1.3.2 The Skene1.4 Staging Conventions1.5 Costumes and Masks1.6 Actors1.7 The Choros1.8 ‘Realistic’ or ‘Stylized’?Chapter Two: Values, Myth and the Individual, the Gods and Moira2.1 Greek and Modern Values2.2 Myth and the Individual2.3 The Gods and Daimones2.4 Moira2.5 Comedy2.6 Modern PerformanceChapter Three: Performing Greek Drama on the Modern Stage3.1 Translation3.1.1 Introduction3.1.2 Desiderata3.1.3 Comedy3.2 Setting, Costumes and Masks3.2.1 ‘Ancient’ or Modern?3.2.2 Desiderata3.3 Speech and Song3.4 Acting3.4.1 Tragedy3.4.1.2 Solo Speech3.4.1.3 Dialogue and Three-actor Scenes3.4.1.4 Props3.4.1.5 Conclusion3.4.2 Comedy3.4.2.1 The In-Law in The Women’s Festival3.4.2.2 A lazzo in Frogs3.4.2.3 Props3.4.2.4 Conclusion3.5 The Choros3.5.1 Introduction3.5.2 Tragedy3.5.2.1 A Choral Ode3.5.2.2 A Lyric Scene3.5.2.3 A Lyric/dialogue Scene3.5.2.4 Conclusion3.5.3 Comedy3.5.3.1 A Choros Divided3.5.3.2 The Parabasis2.5.3.3 Conclusion3.6 Performing Greek Drama on an End-on Stage3.6.1 Comedy: Peace (2009)3.6.2 Tragedy: Medea (2021)3.6.3 Conclusion3.7 AdieuGlossary of Greek wordsRecommended reading Works citedAppendix 1: Synopses of the Extant Tragedies and ComediesAppendix 2: Some Audio-Visual ResourcesIndex
Les mer
Merging the theoretical framework with the practical elements of staging an ancient Greek play, this indispensable guide offers directors and actors an excellent starting point for mounting their production.
Les mer
Collects in one place lots of tools and concepts that a director would otherwise spend hours researching online or trying to figure out on their own

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781350381308
Publisert
2023-10-19
Utgiver
Vendor
Methuen Drama
Høyde
198 mm
Bredde
129 mm
AldersnivĂĽ
U, 05
SprĂĽk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
216

Forfatter

Om bidragsyterne

Michael Ewans is Conjoint Professor of Drama in the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Science at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His many publications include translations with theatrical commentaries of plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes. He is active in production, and has recently directed professional performances in his own translations of Theocritus’ Love Magic, Euripides’ Medea and Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. He is also the author of Performing Opera: A Practical Guide for Singers and Directors (Methuen Drama, 2016).