Greek Theatre

This film explores the role of women in Ancient Greek society and the representation of female identity in Antigone, Women of Troy and Medea.

Dr Lucy Jackson, Teaching Fellow at King's College London & Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) looks back over these recent Greek productions at the National Theatre, featuring Helen McCrory and Jodie Whittaker.

For background detail on Greek theatre productions at the National Theatre, see our online exhibit: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/u/0/exhibit/greek-tragedy-at-the-national-theatre/wRnC0fJ0

Find out more about the theatre of Ancient Greece, with this film that examines the role of the chorus, a defining aspect of the plays that emerged there between 500BC and 220BC.

Dr Lucy Jackson, Teaching Fellow at King's College London & Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) looks back over some of the recent Greek productions at the National Theatre, and their portrayal of the collective voice of the chorus, featuring directors Katie Mitchell, Carrie Cracknell, Polly Findlay and actor Helen McCrory.

For background detail on Greek theatre productions at the National Theatre, see our online exhibit: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/u/0/exhibit/greek-tragedy-at-the-national-theatre/wRnC0fJ0

Actor Helen McCrory, writer Ben Power and director Carrie Cracknell talk about Euripides' Medea as a contemporary story and how it is still a relevant play for today.

Historian Bettany Hughes and theatre scholar Oliver Taplin discuss the place of women in religion and their depiction as dangerous and tragic figures.

Forensic psychiatrist Christopher Cordess and academic Julia Stroud discuss the depiction of revenge killing in Medea, reflecting on the reality of similar actions and their psychological impact.

This is a recording of a live Platform event.

Is Medea's behaviour determined by 'madness'? Classicist Edith Hall and psychiatrist Femi Oyebode discuss this question with Genista McIntosh.

This is a recording of a live Platform event.

Professor Edith Hall discusses Katie Mitchell's staging for the 2007 production of Euripides' Women of Troy in the Lyttelton Theatre, exploring archive images of Bunny Christie's designs for the production

Professor Oliver Taplin discusses elements of production design in Katie Mitchell's 1999 version of Aeschylus's The Oresteia.

Professor Oliver Taplin describes how live video projection formed part of Katie Mitchell's 1999 production of The Oresteia in the Cottesloe theatre.

Professor Oliver Taplin explains the significance of music and poetry in Peter Hall's 1981 production of Aeschylus' The Oresteia, which used Tony Harrison's translation of the text and music composed by Harrison Birtwistle.