On Thursday February 13th, Classicists in years 10-13 embarked on a journey into the realm of the underworld through a modernised adaptation of Aristophanes’ ‘Frogs’, performed by students at the UCL Bloomsbury Theatre. For many, this energetic and humorous introduction to Ancient Greek theatre provided a valuable understanding of the genre. For A Level Classical Civilisation students, this was an opportunity to experience a set text performed live on stage.
‘Frogs’ was written in 405 BC by comic playwright Aristophanes, where it won first prize in the Lenaia, an Athenian dramatic competition held in late February. During a period of profound uncertainty, Athens faced defeat in the Peloponnesian War, while mourning the loss of the esteemed playwright Euripides, who had passed away the previous year. In response, Aristophanes in his play dispatched Dionysus, the god of theatre and wine, to the underworld to retrieve one of Athens’ greatest playwrights. Accompanied by his loyal slave Xanthias, Dionysus journeyed treacherous lands, encountered a chorus of both frogs and initiates of a mystery cult, and endured an extremely overpriced ferry ride across the river Styx, courtesy of the notoriously grumpy ferryman Charon. It is ultimately, after a heated and captivating battle of their prologues between Euripides and Aeschylus, the latter who is granted leave from the underworld.
The performance itself had a very modern take, referring to political figures such as Keir Starmer, and making comic allusions to dating apps; this approach enabled us to connect to the political satire the same way Aristophanes’ had intended for his contemporary Athenian audience. While the initial half of the play primarily relied on Dionysus’s comedic antics, the absence of his sidekick Xanthias in the second half diverted our attention from the Bacchic god and focused on the intense battle between the two playwrights.
Ultimately, this was a highly entertaining and informative performance that not only educated its viewers about the political life of 5th century Athens, but also left us full of laughter.
-Lucy, Y12