Scapegoat Carnivales Tragic Trilogy

Between 2010 and 2017, Canada experienced an efflorescence of Greek tragedy, led by independent Montreal theatre company Scapegoat Carnivales energetic performances of Euripidess Medea and Bacchae and Sophocless Oedipus Tyrannus. The performances featured crisp new translations by coartistic director Joseph Shragge, large casts, and full-throated sung choruses. Scapegoat Carnivales trilogy of these familiar but rarely performed plays is at the core of this volume, which includes all three novel play scripts, the companys stage directions, and helpful annotations that elucidate Greek names and cultural references and place the textual choices in the context of the productions themselves as well as the long manuscript traditions germane to each tragedy. The result sheds light on both the ancient Greek texts and contemporary performance practice, as do accompanying essays introducing the reader to Greek tragedy in fifth-century Athens, reception theories, each plays themes and cultural resonances, and how Scapegoats approach to each play fits into broader global trends of performance and reception. Scapegoat Carnivales Tragic Trilogy invites readers from all backgrounds to encounter these plays, whether they are looking at Greek tragedy for the first time or the fiftieth. It gives everyone the tools to understand where these plays came from, offers insights into how they can and should be performed now, and shows why they are more relevant than ever in contemporary theatre and in life.