Euripides’’ Medea: Translation and Theatrical Commentary

This book offers a new, accurate and actable translation of one of Euripides’ most popular plays, together with a commentary which provides insight into the challenges it sets for production and suggestions for how to solve them.

The introduction discusses the social and cultural context of the play and its likely impact on the original audience, the way in which it was originally performed, the challenges which the lead roles present today and Medea’s implications for the modern audience. The text of the translation is followed by the ’Theatrical Commentary’ section on the issues involved in staging each scene and chorus today, embodying insights gained from a professional production. Notes on the translation, a glossary of names, suggestions for further reading and a chronology of Euripides’ life and times round out the volume.

The book is intended for use by theatre practitioners who wish to stage or workshop Medea and by students both of drama, theatre and performance and of classical studies.

Michael Ewans is Conjoint Professor of Drama in the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His eleven books include two volumes each of translations of plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Aristophanes, all with theatrical commentaries.