Putting Ancient Drama Reception into Action: How and What Performance Teaches

Abstract

Using performance to teach ancient drama has many advantages. It teaches students that ancient plays were written for performance, not reading, and includes many theatrical aspects of the dramas (space, sound, light, movement, costumes, props, actor and audience reactions, and much more). Performance also engages the students in the characters and issues of the plays, provoking their responses and engagement both as individuals and as a group, leading them to “own” the plays and their interpretations.