Scapegoat Carnivale's Tragic Trilogy: Euripides's Medea, Euripides's Bacchae, and Sophocles's Oedipus Tyrannus

Between 2010 and 2017, Canada experienced an efflorescence of Greek tragedy led by Scapegoat Carnivale's energetic performances of Euripides' Medea, Bacchae, and Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus. The trilogy of plays includes new translations, large casts, and sung choruses, shedding light on ancient Greek texts and contemporary performance practice. Accompanying essays introduce Greek tragedy in fifth-century Athens, reception theories, themes, and cultural resonances, and how Scapegoat's approach fits into broader global trends.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2023
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

Between 2010 and 2017, Canada witnessed a remarkable resurgence of Greek tragedy, spearheaded by the dynamic performances of Montreal-based independent theatre company Scapegoat Carnivale. Their electrifying renditions of Euripides' Medea and Bacchae, as well as Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus, captivated audiences with their fresh translations by co-artistic director Joseph Shragge, expansive casts, and powerful sung choruses. Scapegoat Carnivale's trilogy of these timeless yet infrequently staged plays forms the heart of this volume, encompassing the original play scripts, the company's stage directions, and informative annotations that elucidate Greek names and cultural references, placing the textual choices within the context of the productions and the rich manuscript traditions associated with each tragedy. The result is a profound illumination of both the ancient Greek texts and contemporary performance practices, as well as accompanying essays that introduce readers to Greek tragedy in fifth-century Athens, reception theories, the themes and cultural resonances of each play, and how Scapegoat's approach to each play aligns with broader global trends in performance and reception. Scapegoat Carnivale's Tragic Trilogy invites readers from diverse backgrounds to engage with these timeless works, whether they are encountering Greek tragedy for the first time or revisiting it after many years. It equips everyone with the necessary tools to comprehend the origins of these plays, provides valuable insights into their contemporary performance, and underscores their enduring relevance in contemporary theatre and in our lives.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228017646