Greek Theatre Performance: An Introduction

David Wiles

ISBN 10: 0521648572 / ISBN 13: 9780521648578

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2000

About this Item

In this fascinating and accessible book, David Wiles introduces ancient Greek theatre to students and enthusiasts interested in knowing how the plays were performed. Theatre was a ceremony bound up with fundamental activities in ancient Athenian life and Wiles explores those elements which created the theatre of the time. Actors rather than writers are the book's main concern and Wiles examines how the actor used the resources of story-telling, dance, mask, song and visual action to create a large-scale event that would shape the life of the citizen community. The book assumes no prior knowledge of the ancient world, and is written to answer the questions of those who want to know how the plays were performed, what they meant in their original social context, what they might mean in a modern performance and what can be learned from and achieved by performances of Greek plays today.

Seller Inventory # CIN0521648572G

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Greek Theatre Performance: An Introduction
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521648572
• ISBN 13: 9780521648578
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

In this book, David Wiles introduces ancient Greek theater to students and enthusiasts interested in knowing how the plays were performed. Theater was a ceremony bound up with fundamental activities in ancient Athenian life and Wiles explores those elements that created the theater of the time. Actors rather than writers are the book's main concern and Wiles examines how the actor used the resources of story-telling, dance, mask, song and visual action to create a large-scale event that would shape the life of the citizen community.

Book Description

David Wiles introduces ancient Greek theatre to students and enthusiasts interested in knowing how the plays were performed. The book examines how the actor used the resources of story-telling, dance, mask, song and visual action to create large-scale events in Athenian cultural life. The book assumes no prior knowledge of the ancient world, and is written for those who want to know how the plays were performed, what they meant in their original social context, and what can be learned from and achieved by performances of Greek plays today.