A Roman Theatre Spectacle
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On the 9th of August, the ancient stones of St Albans Roman Theatre will echo with laughter, tragedy, and backstage chaos as OVO presents "A Roman Theatre Spectacle", a new play written by local historian and playwright Professor Tim Boatswain.
Professor Boatswain has long been a student of ancient drama. In 2023, OVO performed his script on the essence of Greek tragedy. Now, he turns his attention to Rome, crafting an entertainment that captures the raucous, irreverent spirit of Roman theatre at its most vibrant. Unlike the solemn reverence we sometimes associate with ancient drama, Roman performances were the music halls, sitcoms, and soap operas of their day. They were loud, rowdy, and wildly popular.
The play blends excerpts from three great Roman dramatists—Plautus, Terence, and Seneca—with a fictional backstage story of bickering actors, a despairing manager, and a chorus that comments wryly on the action. Audiences can expect physical comedy, dramatic monologues, a touch of magic, and a great deal of laughter. From the boastful soldier and the paranoid miser to Medea's terrifying revenge and the family squabbles of Terence, there is something for everyone.
Performing in the Roman Theatre itself adds an extraordinary dimension. We do not know for certain whether any of these plays were staged here nearly two thousand years ago, but the possibility alone is electrifying. To sit where Roman spectators once sat, watching drama unfold against the same sky, is to feel history come alive.
Professor Boatswain hopes audiences will laugh, be startled by the power of Seneca's language, and leave with a new respect for Roman culture—not just the legions and the roads, but the human heart that beat beneath the togas.
"A Roman Theatre Spectacle" will be performed on 9th August at St Albans Roman Theatre as part of the OVO Roman Theatre Festival. For bookings, please contact the box office.
https://ovo.org.uk/shows/a-roman-theatre-spectacle/
Don't miss this unforgettable evening of history, drama, and theatrical joy.
Professor Boatswain has long been a student of ancient drama. In 2023, OVO performed his script on the essence of Greek tragedy. Now, he turns his attention to Rome, crafting an entertainment that captures the raucous, irreverent spirit of Roman theatre at its most vibrant. Unlike the solemn reverence we sometimes associate with ancient drama, Roman performances were the music halls, sitcoms, and soap operas of their day. They were loud, rowdy, and wildly popular.
The play blends excerpts from three great Roman dramatists—Plautus, Terence, and Seneca—with a fictional backstage story of bickering actors, a despairing manager, and a chorus that comments wryly on the action. Audiences can expect physical comedy, dramatic monologues, a touch of magic, and a great deal of laughter. From the boastful soldier and the paranoid miser to Medea's terrifying revenge and the family squabbles of Terence, there is something for everyone.
Performing in the Roman Theatre itself adds an extraordinary dimension. We do not know for certain whether any of these plays were staged here nearly two thousand years ago, but the possibility alone is electrifying. To sit where Roman spectators once sat, watching drama unfold against the same sky, is to feel history come alive.
Professor Boatswain hopes audiences will laugh, be startled by the power of Seneca's language, and leave with a new respect for Roman culture—not just the legions and the roads, but the human heart that beat beneath the togas.
"A Roman Theatre Spectacle" will be performed on 9th August at St Albans Roman Theatre as part of the OVO Roman Theatre Festival. For bookings, please contact the box office.
https://ovo.org.uk/shows/a-roman-theatre-spectacle/
Don't miss this unforgettable evening of history, drama, and theatrical joy.
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Where is it happening?
Roman Theatre, Bluehouse Hill,Saint Albans, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherTim Boatswain
