Teaching and popularisation of lost tragic works: contemporary performances of dramatic fragments

This paper examines the contemporary theatrical reception of ancient Greek dramatic fragments, focusing on their staging and educational potential. Despite the fragmentary transmission of most ancient tragedies, modern theater has increasingly turned its attention to these incomplete works, developing innovative approaches to their performance. Particular emphasis is placed on immersive theater as an effective means of engaging with fragmented texts. Immersive performances dissolve the traditional division between actors and spectators, drawing audiences into the dramatic experience and fostering dynamic interaction with the material. This paper explores the methodological and artistic implications of staging ancient dramatic fragments, taking the 2017 production of Kabeiroi by the Punchdrunk theater company as a case study. Inspired by Aeschylus’ lost tragedy Kabeiroi, this production employed site-specific and interactive techniques to create a participatory experience that blurred the boundaries between theater and real life. By analyzing this production alongside broader trends in immersive theater, this chapter argues that such performative strategies can revitalizefragmented texts, making them more accessible and compelling to both educational audiences and the general public.