Hippolytus 2012 Lecture Programme

Ancient Plays for Modern Minds: A Public Engagement Programme

To complement this year’s production of Hippolytus, we are offering a series of talks and workshops, generously supported by the Hellenic Society, we are offering a series of talks and workshops, which aim to illuminate the play and its context and to bring Euripides to life for a modern generation. This exciting programme includes talks by academic experts on ancient drama and its reception, as well as interactive workshops by contemporary theatre practitioners. There are events on every day of the play’s performance, and each talk or workshop deals with an important angle of interpreting or performing Hippolytus. All of our speakers have experience in working with schools, and the events will be suitable for students of Classics, Classical Studies, and Drama, as well as accessible to those without prior experience of Greek drama.
All events are free of charge and open to all. However, the participatory nature of the workshops means that space is limited, and pre-booking is therefore essential. We would also recommend pre-booking for the lectures, in order to avoid potential disappointment on the day: please reserve places for your group by emailing l.swift@ucl.ac.uk. The workshops will last approximately 2 hours; the talks will last approximately 45 minutes, with time for questions at the end. Please note that workshop participants should be aged 16 and above.

  • Tuesday 7th February

3.15pm, Participatory Workshop: ‘Staging the chorus in contemporary theatre’, Russell Bender, Staff Director, National Theatre. Venue: Haldane Room

6pm, Public Talk: “The gods in Hippolytus” Professor Judith Mossman, University of Nottingham. Venue: Institute of Archaeology Lecture Theatre.

  • Wednesday 8th February

3.15pm, Participatory Workshop: “Negotiating desire in Hippolytus’. Dr Matthew Hiscock, free lance theatre director and lecturer in Classics at UCL. Venue: Room 432, School of Slavonic & East European Studies, Taviton St.

6pm Public Talk: ‘Choice, responsibility, and action in Hippolytus’ Dr Laura Swift, UCL. Venue: Christopher Ingold Auditorium, 20 Gordon St

  • Thursday 9th February

3.15pm Participatory Workshop: ‘Physical theatre and ancient drama’, Sasha Milavic Davies, Assistant Director, Complicite Theatre. Venue: Room SB1, 188 Tottenham Court Road

6pm, Public Talk: “Conflicting worlds in Hippolytus”, Professor Chris Carey, UCL. Venue: Christopher Ingold Auditorium, 20 Gordon St