Ancient influences on Shakespeare and cinema explored in lecture series

Did you know that Euripides’ play Hecuba, which was available widely in the Renaissance in Latin translation, influenced Shakespeare’s Hamlet?

Or that ancient epic stories like those written by Homer were widely used in early silent film?

These are just two of the subjects which will be covered in next term’s lunchtime talks at Oxford University’s Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama (APGRD), a research centre in the Faculty of Classics.

'The APGRD is unique,’ explains Dr Fiona Macintosh, director of the archive.

'As well as carrying out research into performances of Greek and Roman drama across all eras and media, we also put on many events – both performances and public talks - which are always well received by those who attend.

'We invite anyone who is interested to come to these talks during their lunch hour or as part of a visit to Oxford – they are free and do not need to be booked in advance.'

Timetable (all lectures begin at 2.15pm in the Lecture Theatre, 66 St Giles’):

Tanya Pollard, Brooklyn College and CUNY - What’s Hecuba to Shakespeare? (21 January)

Pantelis Michelakis, Bristol -  Homer and Early Cinema (4 February)

Adrian Noble, theatre director, and Joanne Pearce, actor and RSC Associate - Sophocles' Theban Plays at the RSC in 1991 (25 February)

Peter Meineck, New York University - Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives (6 May)

Michael Ewans, Newcastle NSW - Epic and Opera to 1800 (3 June)

Top image: Act III of Hamlet by Devèria and Boulanger (public domain); Bottom image: Pbroks13