Summer School Short Course: Understanding Greek Theatre Like An Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek plays still resonate with audiences today, but do we experience and interpret them the same way the ancient Greeks did? Find out in this short course for the Hellenic Museum's 2027 Annual Summer School.
Time & Location
04 Jan 2027, 11:30 am AEDT – 08 Jan 2027, 12:30 pm AEDT
Hellenic Museum or Online, 280 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Event Details
Join the Hellenic Museum and Dr Christopher Gribbin at the tenth annual Summer School. Spend a week exploring the spectacular and fascinating world of the ancient Greeks and Romans in this series of informative, relaxed and entertaining short courses, where anyone is welcome!
About this course
There’s a timeless quality to ancient Greek plays which means they still entertain and resonate with modern audiences. But do we experience and interpret the plays the same way that the ancient Greeks did? This course compares the ancient experience of tragedy with ours, and considers questions like: How and why did the Greeks use myth for their storylines? What elements excited a Greek audience? And what caused the audience to throw food at the actors? Following three sessions looking at how Greek tragedy worked, we spend two sessions looking in detail at Euripides’ Medea and the differing meanings it can hold for modern and ancient audiences.
Session times and topics
This course consists of 5 sessions over 5 days, delivered in-person or online at 11.30AM–12.30PM daily (AEDT). People taking part online can participate live or watch recorded lectures at a time of their convenience. Sessions will cover:
The Birth of Tragedy – Myth, Poetry, Performance and Theatre
The Setting of Tragedy – Theatres, Actors, Costumes and Festivals
The Theory of Tragedy – Aristotle on What Makes a Good Tragedy
Understanding Euripides’ Medea
Euripides’ Medea Continued
About the presenter
Dr Christopher Gribbin is a public historian, specialising in ancient Greece and Rome. He has a particular interest in understanding how people make sense of the world, whether through religion, philosophy, myth, art or architecture.
Christopher is an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University and has also lectured at Melbourne and Monash universities. He founded the University of Melbourne’s Classics Summer School in 2002 and ran it for 15 years. He has run the Hellenic Museum Summer School since 2018.
Christopher is actively involved in bringing the ancient world to the community in a meaningful and entertaining way. He regularly talks to community groups, professional organisations and school groups. He has worked on special events with the Hellenic Museum, Humanities 21, the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Museums. He has developed educational products with the ABC and the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria. He also records podcasts and leads cultural tours visiting ancient sites with Australians Studying Abroad.
He is well regarded as a clear and enthusiastic teacher who loves to share his passion about the ancient world with the community. Find out more about Christopher.
Explore other courses
There are four courses on offer in 2027. Visit the Summer School hub to explore individual courses, or bundle and save with a four-subject pass.
FREE LECTURE: Secluded or Active? Reconstructing Women’s Lives in Ancient Athens
Get a taste of what's to come at this free talk presented by your Summer School lecturer, Dr Christopher Gribbin. Were ancient Athenian women hidden away at home, or were they active members of their community? The answer is complicated. This talk will look at evidence from historians, legal cases, literature, vase paintings and the remains of ancient houses to explore what we can really know about the role and status of women in ancient Athens.
11AM Sunday 29 November, online or in-person at the Hellenic Museum. Bookings essential – click here to reserve your free place.
Tickets
Single Course Enrolment
From $135.00 to $165.00
$165.00
$135.00
Total
$0.00