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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Performances of Greek and Roman Drama at the Roman Theatre of Sagunto (1982-2008)

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description

Since 1982, the Spanish historical town of Sagunto has hosted the festival of Sagunt a Escena, which celebrated its twenty-fifth season in 2008. Throughout these years, more than fifty Greek and Roman tragedies, comedies, and plays inspired by classical themes have been put on stage between the months of June and September. Despite the heterogeneity of the festival, conceived as an ensemble of plays, dance, and street theatre, the performances based on classical themes have traditionally been considered the pièce de résistence of its repertoire. As a consequence, some of the world’s most acclaimed cotemporary actors, actresses, stage directors and companies such as Irene Papas, Michael Cacoyannis and Alicia Alonso, have met in Sagunto in order to stage and also to discuss modern refigurations of Medea, Electra and Antigone, to name but a few. The compilation of a comprehensive production history of the ancient plays performed in Sagunt a Escena offers an opportunity to trace the history of the reception of ancient drama in the Spanish theatrical scene throughout the last two decades. In particular, the analysis of aspects such as the role of politics in the development of the festival and the organization of side activities shed light on many of the peculiarities that differ Sagunt a Escena from other Spanish festivals such as the Festival de Teatro Clásico de Mérida and the Festival de Teatre Grec de Barcelona. Within this context, this paper seeks to map the history of Sagunt a Escena focusing on the Greek and Roman plays and figures which have been put on stage with greater frequency throughout its twenty-five editions. Particular attention will be paid to the different approaches adopted by national, international, public and private companies and productions.