The Role of Women in Sophocles’ Antigone

Antigone is a tragic play written in the fifth century BC by the great Greek poet Sophocles. The title character is the daughter of...

Blackfriars Theatre in Renaissance London

A monastery built in 1278 by Dominican monks was closed in 1538 by Henry VIII, used as site of two theatres, and permanently closed...

The Life and Works of Sophocles

Sophocles was the great Greek playwright of over 120 plays, seven of which are surviving today. What was the great Greek playwright Sophocles' childhood like?...

A Bluffer’s Guide To Ancient Greek Tragedy

An introduction to some of the key ideas about one of the world's most powerful and strange body of plays. Some of the richest and...

Isabella and Francesco Andreini of Commedia dell’Arte Gelosi

Isabella Andreini, playwright and prima donna, and comic Francesco Andreini performed with commedia dell'arte's foremost company, the Gelosi. Early companies of commedia dell’arte comprised all-male...

16th Century London Theatrical Venues: Stages for Touring Theatre Companies Developed...

Queen Elizabeth fully supported the theatre but the London politicians did not, so traditional venues were utilized by acting companies. The Queen enjoyed the plays...

Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre Actors and Performances

William Shakespeare was an actor and co-owner at the Globe Theatre. "Julius Caesar" was likely the first of his plays performed in the new...

Roman Comedy Elaborated in the Works of Plautus and Terence

Roman Comedy borrowed heavily from its Greek counterpart, however, the Roman Comedians made substantial changes and created a poper Roman style of Comedy. The two...

Medieval Theatricals from Churches to Merchant and Craft Guilds

The Christian church banned Roman theatricals, introduced liturgical drama into its services years later, and eventually permitted guilds to manage them. By the 9th century,...

Performer Catherine Clive of Drury Lane: British Theatrical Stage Actress in...

Catherine "Kitty" Clive was a prime audience favorite during her forty years on the British stage. Catherine Clive was born in London, England in 1711,...