One of the most challenging puzzles in the study of ancient Greek drama is, without a doubt, its staging: the codes that shaped its theatrical presentation by clarifying meanings, intentions, and gestures. Today’s artist naturally has complete freedom to suggest their own solutions, no matter how imaginative they may be. However, often one feels that both theatrical and philological interpretations would benefit greatly from sharing experiences, questions, and approaches.
This rare combination of theory and practice, scientific sobriety and artistic warmth, is exhibited by the honoree N. Ch. Chormouzias, a philologist and director, emeritus professor at the School of Philosophy of the University of Thessaloniki. His interpretative work on ancient drama reveals a researcher with remarkable sensitivity and knowledge in the field of theatrical presentation, traits that are due (or perhaps led to) his long and fruitful career in active theater as a director and translator of works from ancient, modern Greek, and global repertoires.
A wide variety of dramaturgical genres and approaches, a close connection between translation and theatrical creation, sober and always consistent and well-founded exploration of interpretative methods and means: these are the main axes of N. Ch. Chormouzias’s theatrical work, which also characterize his engagement with the staging of ancient drama. With this volume, friends, colleagues, and students of Nikos Chormouzias wished, as a modest acknowledgment of his many years of contribution and active presence, both philological and theatrical, to dedicate these studies to him.
[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]
