Roman Republican Theatre

A comprehensive history of Roman drama from its beginnings to the end of the Republican period.

Gesine Manuwald (Author)

9780521110167, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 June 2011

404 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm, 0.71 kg

Theatre flourished in the Roman Republic, from the tragedies of Ennius and Pacuvius to the comedies of Plautus and Terence and the mimes of Laberius. Yet apart from the surviving plays of Plautus and Terence the sources are fragmentary and difficult to interpret and contextualise. This book provides a comprehensive history of all aspects of the topic, incorporating recent findings and modern approaches. It discusses the origins of Roman drama and the historical, social and institutional backgrounds of all the dramatic genres to be found during the Republic (tragedy, praetexta, comedy, togata, Atellana, mime and pantomime). Possible general characteristics are identified, and attention is paid to the nature of and developments in the various genres. The clear structure and full bibliography also ensure that the book has value as a source of reference for all upper-level students and scholars of Latin literature and ancient drama.

Introduction: previous scholarship and the present approach
Part I. The Cultural and Institutional Background: 1. The evolution of Roman drama
2. Production and reception
Part II. Dramatic Poetry: 3. Dramatic genres
4. Dramatic poets
5. Dramatic themes and techniques
Overview and conclusions: Republican drama.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Theatre studies [AN]