Greek Epic and Theatre Talks

Performing Arts, Classics

The Classics Department was delighted to host Dr Naomi Scott and PhD student Lily Bickers from University of Bristol on 14th November to talk about Greek Epic and Greek Theatre to nearly 150 Classics and Drama students from Royal High and local schools. 

Dr Scott captivated her audience with both sessions and provided plenty of food for thought. In relation to Homer, we considered the impact of oral poetry as a performance piece and the implications of having a text eventually written down to be studied and debated about even to this day. In the Greek Theatre talk, costume design and the importance of theatre to Greek society’s understanding of different viewpoints and, in turn, our own understanding of Greek concerns was highlighted. Examples included emphasising that a chorus of men played captured women in Euripides’ ‘Trojan Women’; remembering that these plays were part of a religious festival to Dionysus in Spring, just as new life returns and the store-cupboards are bare; the visual spectacle of Aristophanes’ chorus of frogs; the possible use of live animals and the importance of visual humour. Needless to say, this is just a flavour of two such wide-ranging talks.      

Enormous thanks to Dr Scott for delivering such fascinating, informative and entertaining lectures that were truly inspirational. We are also grateful for our link with The University of Bristol who covered all costs so that this opportunity was freely accessibly to all. Finally, we thank the six local schools who made time to bring their students (RedMaids’ High, Hayesfield Girls' School, Oldfield, St Mary’s Calne, Kingswood and KES) who also asked such thought-provoking questions.

It was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic students of Classics or classical drama, which provides further proof of the enduring appeal of the ancient world.