Greek
Theatre
at Warwick

Upcoming festival annoucement

We are pleased to announce that the Warwick Ancient Drama Festival will return in January 2025.

There will be three performances of Aeschylus' Agamemnon:

  • Thursday 30thJanuary at 7.30pm
  • Friday 31stJanuary at 3.30pm
  • Friday 31stJanuary at 7pm

The play, performed in the Warwick Arts Centre, will be directed and produced by Classics and Drama and Theatre Studies at Warwick. Follow them on Instagram.

Each performance will be accompanied by assorted talks and lectures from scholars of Greek drama. For details please see below:

Lectures & talks

Each performance will be accompanied by assorted talks and lectures from scholars of Greek drama:
  • Thursday evening (30th at 6pm): On the Thursday, there will be a pre-performance lecture by Dr Emmanuela Bakola on ‘Aeschylus and the Oresteia’.
  • Schools Day (Friday 31st): Supporting the matinee performance on Friday 31st, the Department is offering a series of lectures, discussions, and seminars specifically for school students, and designed to link in with Greek, Classical Civilisation, Ancient History, Drama, and English syllabuses at GCSE and A-Level. No previous knowledge of the play or subject area will be expected.
  • Friday pm/evening (31st): If the matinee and associated talks are oversubscribed, the Department will offer additional sessions on the afternoon of Friday 31st (from 4pm) for those unable to attend the earlier sessions on that day (please see here).

Schools Day

The 31st of January is specifically dedicated to schools (‘Schools Day’).

Booking the Schools Day

The Schools Day (Friday 31st), including the matinee performance, is FREE, but attendees are asked to organise their own transportation and lunch.

If you wish to book your pupils for this day, please email Dr Emily Clifford [email protected] with the following information:

  1. The number of participants, including teachers (max 30 in total per school, please)
  2. Which of the afternoon sessions you wish to attend (Everyone will attend the two lectures from 11–12, but there is then a choice of options for the two sessions 12.15–1 and 2–2.45.)

*Please do not over-estimate student numbers.*

It has been frustrating, in previous years, to see empty seats at this over-subscribed event.

If you miss out on the Schools Day

The Schools Day will become fully booked very quickly. We will operate a waiting list for those schools who apply after the booking limit has been reached. If the matinee performance is full, or not convenient, schools may instead book for the evening performances on Thursday or Friday, which are also accompanied by lectures:

  • Thursday evening (30th): On the Thursday, there will be a pre-performance lecture by Dr Emmanuela Bakola on ‘Aeschylus and the Oresteia’.
  • Friday pm/evening (31st): If the matinee and associated talks are oversubscribed, the Department will offer additional sessions on the afternoon of Friday 31st (from 4pm) for those unable to attend the earlier sessions on that day (please see below).

Tickets for both these performances (normally £7) will have 50% discount for school groups, and booking will commence in early October. To make a school group booking for an evening performance, please email [email protected] at the Warwick Arts Centre, cc’ing me ([email protected]).

Provisional Programme

30-31 January 2025, Warwick Arts Centre

Thursday 30 January 2025

6.30–7.00pm:

Dr Emmanuela Bakola, Aeschylus and the Oresteia

7.30–9.30 pm: 

Performance (1) of the Agamemnon at Warwick Arts Centre Main Theatre

Friday 31 January 2025

Seminars—Session 1

12.15–1pm:
  • Option A—Dr Emmanuela Bakola, 'Understanding Aeschylus' Oresteia is key for understanding Greek theatre: Discuss' (Main stage)
  • Option B—Dr Emily Clifford, 'Seeing Furies: The Oresteia in Pictures' (Helen Martin Studio)
  • Option C—Professor David Fearn, 'Language and Character Up Close' (FAB or Oculus)
  • Option D—Dr Leo Kershaw, 'Cut from the Same Cloth: Symbolism, Sacrifice, and the Textiles in modern productions of Aeschylus' Agamemnon' (FAB or Oculus)
1–2pm: 

Lunch break for all

Friday 31 January 2025

Seminars—Session 2

2–2.45pm: 
  • Option A—Dr Emmanuela Bakola, 'Understanding Aeschylus' Oresteia is key for understanding Greek theatre: Discuss' (Helen Martin Studio)
  • Option B—Dr Emily Clifford, 'Seeing Furies: The Oresteia in Pictures' (Main stage)
  • Option C—Professor David Fearn, 'Language and Character Up Close' (seminar) (FAB or Oculus) 
  • Option D—Dr Leo Kershaw, 'Cut from the Same Cloth: Symbolism, Sacrifice, and the Textiles in modern productions of Aeschylus' Agamemnon' (FAB or Oculus)
3pm: 

Theatre doors open for audience to take seats

3.30–5.30pm: 

Performance (2) of the Agamemnon at Warwick Arts Centre Main Theatre

5.30-6pm:

Post-performance discussion, by Director and Producer

Friday 31 January 2025

Extra Sessions (Helen Martin Studio)

4pm:

Dr Emmanuela Bakola, Introduction to Ancient Theatre, Aeschylus and the Oresteia.

5 – 5.45pm:

Dr Emily Clifford, 'Seeing Furies: The Oresteia in Pictures'

6-6.45:

Dr Emmanuela Bakola, 'Understanding Aeschylus' Oresteia is key for understanding Greek theatre: Discuss'

7.00–9pm: 

Performance (3) of the Agamemnon at Warwick Arts Centre Main Theatre

Get in touch

If you would like to reach out to know more about this production, the Warwick Ancient Drama Festival, or the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick, please feel free to contact Dr Emmanuela Bakola at [email protected]

Department of Classics and Ancient History, Humanities Building, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL