2005 Intensive course

Dear Student,

Within the framework of the intensive summer course in Epidauros active student collaboration is expected. This letter is to inform you about the preparations required for this course.

The following active contributions of students are planned during the seminars:

a) a short 5-minute presentation about a performance of the Oresteia

b) a dramaturgical exercise

c) a drama and performance analytical exercise

The plays which will be subject of those exercises are chosen because they are being performed in Epidauros during the course, or because they are part of a longer focus of the network organising the course. Below we give you the information about

I: the plays, which are dealt with during the course

II: the (first) student presentation

About the other contributions you will be informed during the course itself, but we suppose that you are familiar with the plays mentioned below.

Ad I Subject plays of the course

As part of the course, you will visit three performances (in Epidauros and Athens). The performance plays will also figure as referential plays for the lectures and excercises. You are therefore kindly requested to read the following plays in translation (or in the original):

Aischylos’ Oresteia

Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus

Euripides’ Bacchae

Aristophanes’ Acharnians, Peace, Birds, Lysistrata, and Frogs

And please, bring the texts of the plays with you.

Ad II Student presentation

You will be responsible for giving a 5-minute presentation on a performance that took place in your country, and you should be ready to answer questions about it. This performance should be related to Aischylos’ Oresteia.

1) Sketch one major question of interpretation that arises in the trilogy as a whole or in one of the parts.

2) Examine how this question is approached in the performance.

Your paper should be accompanied by a hand-out of max. 2 pages containing:

a) A short survey of the main points of your presentation

b) All relevant factual data about the performance (who, when, where)

c) Bibliography (optional)

Your paper may be complemented with up to 5 slides and/or transparencies, or a short video fragment.

In case no performance of the Oresteia has been offered in your country, you may also discuss a performance of one of the other plays mentioned above.

Presentations will be followed by a short discussion. Moreover, each student will receive personal feedback on the presentation by two staff members.

Yours sincerely,

Platon Mavromoustakos

For the organising committee