French Literature Reviews - 2026

B. Le Guen, S. Milanezi (eds.), L'Appareil scénique dans les spectacles de l'Antiquité.
Theatre and Performance

L'Appareil scénique dans les spectacles de l'Antiquité.

Brigitte Le Guen, Silvia Milanezi (eds.),

Presses Universitaires de Vincennes

Published: October 2013 - 22€

EAN13 : 9782842923921

Abstract

An original and unprecedented approach to the question of ancient theatre.

How do objects and other elements pertaining to stage design actively contribute to dramatic action in Greco-Roman antiquity?

By examining both well-known and previously unstudied masks, closely looking at deceptive garments, stage machinery, water jugs, barber's tools, or the doors used in tragedy, comedy, mime, and pantomime, the contributors to this edited volume offer a fresh perspective on the scenography of Greco-Roman tragedy and comedy.

Authors studied: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, Plautus.

This volume brings together scholarly investigations into the material culture of performance in ancient Greece and Rome, focusing on how physical items shape dramatic presentation. Edited by Brigitte Le Guen and Silvia Milanezi, the collection examines specific theatrical elements such as masks, garments, stage machinery, and props across various genres, including tragedy, comedy, mime, and pantomime. The studies engage with classical authors including Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Plato, and Plautus, addressing the mechanics of staging in antiquity through both familiar and lesser-known sources.

The relationship between material objects and dramatic action remains a central area of inquiry within classical scholarship and the study of ancient performance traditions. Readers interested in the staging practices of Greco-Roman theatre and the material dimensions of classical drama may find this collection relevant to their study of theatrical history and dramatic literature.