Sixth Form Classicists visit Warwick for production of Oedipus the King

6.1 and 6.2 visit Warwick University for a day of lectures and to enjoy the performance

The 6.1 and 6.2 classicists went on a trip to Warwick University, where we watched their production of Oedipus the King, one of our set texts. In the morning we enjoyed a range of lectures from professors at the university, exploring different interpretations of the play, as well as the rich cultural history that shaped the themes and characters. It was exciting to take notes and learn in a new way, whilst getting valuable insight into how University lectures work and how we best learn from them.

Equipped with new knowledge, we spent the afternoon watching a musical interpretation of the Greek tragedy. By incorporating singing and dancing into the production the performers reflected how an Ancient Greek chorus would behave on stage, albeit with a modern twist. By watching how the performers interpreted the text, we gained an appreciation of how complex and intricate Greek theatre is, as people read the play in so many different ways. For example, in response to Oedipus’ blinding the chorus performed a rap/rock ballad to highlight to a modern audience the violence and crudeness of the act.

Through this we gained an understanding of how varied and intense an emotional response the first audience watching Oedipus must have felt.

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