Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen

26-27 January 2023

Summary

Assemblywomen is a modern adaptation of an Ancient Greek comedy, featuring cross-dressing, confusion and chaos. The women of Athens stage a political takeover, disguising themselves as men and implementing an outlandish new system across the city. Their husbands, stuck at home, are left to deal with the farcical consequences. The play follows the Athenians as they come to terms with the women’s rule, getting into a series of daft situations along the way. Updated and performed by students, with a unique blend of political commentary and risqué humour, this timeless classic isn’t one to miss!

Performance

Production

Assemblywomen began at the 2023 Annual Ancient Drama Festival, held in the Warwick Arts Centre on 26-27 January 2023. The festival focused on a student production of Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen, directed by Hana Lawrie, produced by Seb Handley, and brought to life by Warwick students. This festival is a collaboration between the Warwick Classics Department and the Classics Society, to share ancient theatre with the public. On the 27th we welcomed 500 teachers and students from schools around England to see Assemblywomen.

We want to express our thanks to Jeffrey Henderson for his translation of the script, and to the British Academy for their generous funding.

Lectures

View all our resources

Gender in Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen

The historical context of Assemblywomen

The Iconography of “Attic” Comedy

The Domestication of the Polis in Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen

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]

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