A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theater

A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theater

by G Ley (Author)

Synopsis

Contemporary productions on stage and film, and the development of theater studies, have created a new audience for ancient Greek drama. This volume fills the need for a clear, concise statement of what is known about the original conditions of production for tragedy, comedy, and satyr play in the age of Pericles and provides observations on all aspects of performance. Reexamining the surviving plays of the tragic writers Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides and of the comedian Aristophanes, Graham Ley discusses the actor's technique, the power and range of the chorus, the use of theatrical space, and parody in the plays. A series of diagrams relates the theater to the city and political life of ancient Athens, and photographic illustrations of scenes from Greek vases document the visualization of theatrical performance. An ideal companion to "The Complete Greek Tragedies" (University of Chicago Press), Ley's work is a valuable user's guide to the critical assessment of modern translations and adaptations of tragedy and comedy. It is designed for all students of Greek drama with an interest in performance, and for theatrical practitioners who require a concise but informative introduction to one of the great periods of world drama. Graham Ley has taught theater studies and Greek drama at the University of London and the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He has adapted Greek plays for sound and stage, and directed for the theater.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 116
Edition: New edition
Publisher: Chicago University Press
Published: 09 Mar 2007

ISBN 10: 0226477614
ISBN 13: 9780226477619

Author Bio

Graham Ley is a reader in drama and theory at the University of Exeter. He has directed ancient and modern plays, has been a dramaturg for professional productions, and is the author of many specialist essays and books, including, most recently The Theatricality of Greek Tragedy, forthcoming from the University of Chicago Press.