Abstract
Students in the Theatre and Egyptology programs at the American University in Cairo collaboratively wrote an original play based on the ancient Egyptian birth, death and resurrection myth of Osiris and Isis (Usir and Aset) which was performed in Cairo at both theatre spaces and high schools. Using an ancient setting, but with contemporary characters and language, “Ancient History” tells the story of chaos and order, jealousy and healing and reminds audiences that different goals and perspectives do not have to be adversarial. Far predating ancient Greek theatre, annual performances of this myth in Abydos, Egypt began as early as 2500 BCE and continued until around 500 CE, constituting the first known theatrical performances in the world. By researching the myth and working with Egyptologists to retell the story from the Egyptian perspective, student authors connected to Egyptian history and legacy of the performance in their country.
Presenters
Jillian CampanaAssociate Dean and Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, Theatre, American University in Cairo, Egypt
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Playwriting, Egyptology, Participatory Research, Interdisciplinary Collaboration
