Shakespeare’s Plays at the Royal Theatre in Athens in the Early 20th Century

Abstract

In the early 20th century, the idea of creating a state theatre in Greece matured, that was responsible for establishing the foundation of a national dramatic tradition, as well as of the art of histrionics which until that time was characterized by amateurism. The Royal Theatre opened its doors to the public in 1900 and was based on the model of German Court theatres. In other words, theatre was considered a superior form of art that had to be kept away from the lower social classes. The absence of a powerful urban class and the lack of cohesion between the urban class and the lower classes favored the role of the Court, which was influenced by Drama when it comes on shaping its public guise and consolidate its dominance, by ensuring that a specific theatre style, aesthetics and ideology were preserved. Shakespeare’s performances in Greece were based on uncritical copying of practices applied in Europe in the light of the country’s agonizing struggle to build a new national and urban class identity. The audience of the Royal Theatre was seeking its own identity within that phantasmagorical ambience; that is for points of convergence with the western model, so as to receive social recognition and feel self-justified, as participation in such events were classified as “cultured persons”. The theatrical environment itself and the utilization of works of the English poet's works played a role in solidifying the idea in Greece that Shakespeare’s plays are the exclusive privilege of the urban class.