Seventeenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Museum theatre is a specific kind of interpretation that employs fictional activity to communicate ideas, facts, and concepts, according to a museums’ mission and interpretation strategy. The museum theatre play “Piraeus 391 B.C.: A Day at Xanthippi’s” - performed in 2017 at the archaeological space of the ancient city gates of Piraeus - chose to focus on an era that is highly charged, both emotionally and ideologically. The play’s primary aim was to interpret the water supply network of the ancient city that was unearthed during the construction of the Athens Metro network. In order to contextualize the findings and make them relatable to present day life, the play shed some light on everyday life in Pireaus in 391 B.C., from the perspective of Xanthippi: a female ‘metic’ and tavern owner. Essentially an imaginary character, who didn’t exist, but who could have existed, Xanthippi interacts with the audience; themselves taking on the role of Athenians who have travelled to Piraeus for a sacred festival and who have stopped along the way for a rest at Xanthippi’s tavern. This paper outlines the theoretical and methodological tools that were applied, in the case of this lively encounter at Xanthippi’s tavern, in order to encourage dialogue where historical data serves as a means to examine present-day social issues.