The Theatrical Cast of Athens

Edith Hall investigates how ancient Athenian theatre and everyday life shaped each other through a series of twelve examinations of dramatic roles and their conventions. From tragic masks and allegorical representations to drowning barbarians and chorus performances, she reveals the intricate ways theatrical invention reflected and transformed social reality. Hall demonstrates that Greek drama and Athenian society engaged in constant dialogue, with each influencing the other in complex and unexpected ways. This influential study rewrites our understanding of how theatre functioned as both mirror and mirror-maker in classical Athens.