The Iris Festival of Classics

The Iris School's Greek Drama Project is a three-day event, including plays and performances of Greek drama by London state schools and youth groups. There will also be workshops and talks.

1pm A double bill of Greek Comedy

Birds by Aristophanes; Clouds by Aristophanes performed by local primary schools.

Birds by Aristophanes
War. Corrupt politicians. A population only concerned with themselves. Not 21st Century Britain but 5th Century BC Athens!

Clouds by Aristophanesf you thought that it was only recently that old people began complaining about the younger generation, think again.

6pm A Classical tragedy - Bacchae by Euripides

Performed by more than 250 pupils from five London state schools over three days. This is the culmination of a year's work.

Bacchae is the story of the punishment of Penthius, King of Thebes and his mother Agave by the god Dionysus for their refusal to worship him. In part a story of a clash between the immortal and mortal, it also tells of clashes between civilisations, between men and women, between authority and license as the god's vengeance turns to brutal murder.