Ancient Greeks / Modern Lives: Poetry • Drama • Dialogue
- Public Event
The theme of this public reading is "Stranger in a Strange Land: Encountering the Other." Featuring professional actors, this evening will include an introduction, performed readings from a repertoire of scenes from Greek drama, a post-show discussion and a town hall style meeting, including audience comments.
This thematic unit provides a rich vein for programming, public engagement and vigorous discussion with questions on encountering new communities, the concepts of exploration and discovery, the role of immigration and colonization, and the issues that arise when one culture clashes with another.
This theme is inspired by the first words of the chorus of soldiers in Sophocles's Philoctetes who, when landing on the deserted island of Lemnos, seeking the marooned Greek warrior Philoctetes say "en xena, xenon" ("stranger in a strange land"). These encounters with the "other" provide Greek literature with some of its most compelling stories and this theme of the stranger abroad is still one that resonates strongly with contemporary Americans.
For the past 20 years, Aquila Theatre Company's productions have received critical and audience acclaim. The New York Times describes Aquila as "a classically trained, modernly hip troupe."
This event is open to the public, free of charge. No tickets or reservations are required.
Location: Crowell Public Library, 1890 Hungtinton Dr., San Marino, CA 91108
Ancient Greeks / Modern Lives: Poetry • Drama • Dialogue is a program that has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life. www.ancientgreeksmodernlives.org.
Any viewings, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
