The Greek Drama in Italian Contemporary Theatre: A Historical Perspective

The paper presents a brief history of the development of the use of ancient and Renaissance theatrical spaces for classical theatre in the 20th century in Italy. The author shows how the staging of classic performances in these surroundings proved to be a rediscovery of ancient theatre, which led to a new relationship with classical texts, bestowing new life on the Italian theatre scene. Performances were staged in Syracuse, Ostia, Antica, Pompei, Palazzo Acreid, Taormina, Agrigento, Vicenza and led to theatre festivals which required the collaboration of archaeologists and theatre specialists. Theatrical concerns and textual meanings have evolved with time, and today, encompass themes of immediate social and political concern.