Ewans, Michael (University of Newcastle, Australia)

Staging Ancient Greek Plays: A Practical Guide Ewans, Michael (University of Newcastle, Australia)

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.

Looking briefly first at the conditions of ancient Greek performance and the conventions of the Greek theatre, this practical guide goes on to explore, with analysed examples, the issues that today's theatre-makers need to consider in order to successfully stage ancient Greek drama.

These topics include:

- choice of translation
- setting
- costumes
- masks
- mode of delivery
- themes
- acting style for both tragedy and comedy
- handling of the chorus
- solutions to performing Greek drama on an end-on stage, as opposed to the arena space which the Greeks used

The final part of the book examines larger questions, including those related to ancient Greek values, myth and the individual ('characterization'), and the gods and fate - all of which need to be taken into consideration when approaching a contemporary production.

Overall, the book presents a key overview of Greek theatre in an accessible and practical manner not presently offered elsewhere.
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