French Literature Reviews - 2026

Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theater
Theatre and Performance

Ley, Graham A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theater: Revised Edition. 116 p., 6 halftones, 4 line drawings. 5 x 8 2006

Cloth $32.00sc ISBN: 978-0-226-47762-6 (ISBN-10: 0-226-47762-2) Fall 2006
Paper $12.00sp ISBN: 978-0-226-47761-9 (ISBN-10: 0-226-47761-4) Fall 2006

University of Chicago Press

Contemporary stage and film productions, alongside the evolution of theater studies, continue to attract new audiences to ancient Greek drama. Offering insights into every aspect of theatrical performance, this volume provides a clear and concise overview of what is known regarding the original staging conditions of such works during the Age of Pericles.

Revisiting the surviving plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes, Graham Ley examines acting techniques, stage design, the dynamic range and impact of the chorus, the utilization of theatrical space, and the role of parody. Along with illustrations from Greek vases documenting theatrical performances, this new edition features additional notes on ancient mime, puppetry, and reading ancient dramatic texts as active scripts, as well as an updated bibliography. Serving as an ideal companion to The Complete Greek Tragedies—also published by the University of Chicago Press—Ley’s study offers a concise and insightful introduction to one of the most remarkable eras in world drama.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Plans and Illustrations / vii

Preface / ix

Preface to the Revised Edition / ix

Acknowledgments / xi

Introduction / 1

Greek Drama

The Organization of the Festivals

Lesser Dramatic Performances at Athens

The Writer

The Theater

Scenography

Masks, Costume, and Properties

Chorus

Actors

Reading Texts as Scripts

The Playing Space

The Audience

Delivery

Distance and Physical Action

Choral Song and Choral Action

Parody

Translation and Adaptation

Appendix: Chronology of the Surviving Plays

Glossary

Bibliography

Commentary on the Plates

Index

The study of ancient Greek drama forms a cornerstone of classical scholarship and theatrical history, focusing on the works produced in Athens during the fifth century BCE. This tradition encompasses the foundational tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, alongside the distinctive comedies of Aristophanes. Scholars in this field examine how dramatic texts functioned within civic festivals, analyzing the relationship between text, performance space, and audience. Investigations typically cover the physical architecture of classical theaters, the mechanics of staging, and the formal conventions governing chorus, masks, and delivery.

Graham Ley examines original staging conditions during the Age of Pericles, revisiting surviving plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes. The volume addresses acting techniques, stage design, the dynamic range of the chorus, the utilization of theatrical space, and the role of parody, incorporating illustrations from Greek vases. This revised edition includes additional notes on ancient mime, puppetry, reading ancient dramatic texts as active scripts, and an updated bibliography. Readers interested in classical drama and performance history may find this study relevant to their inquiries.