Includes bibliographical references (p. 341-353) and index.

Introduction / Marianne McDonald and J. Michael Walton -- 'Telling the tale' : a performing tradition from Homer to pantomime / Mark Griffith -- Ancient theatre and performance culture / Richard P. Martin -- Religion and drama / Fritz Graf -- The socio-political dimension of ancient tragedy / Jon Hesk -- Aristotle's Poetics and ancient dramatic theory / David Wiles -- Politics and Aristophanes : watchword 'caution!' / Gonda Van Steen -- Comedy and society from Menander to Terence / Sander Goldberg -- Lost theatre and performance traditions in Greece and Italy / Hugh Denard -- Art and theatre in the ancient world / Richard Green -- Festivals and audiences in Athens and Rome / Rush Rehm -- Playing places : the temporary and the permanent / Richard Beacham -- Chorus and dance in the ancient world / Yana Zarifi -- Masks in Greek and Roman theatre / Gregory McCart -- A material world : costume, properties and scenic effects / Graham Ley -- Commodity : asking the wrong questions / J. Michael Walton -- The dramatic legacy of myth : Oedipus in opera, radio, television and film / Marianne McDonald -- Playwrights and plays -- Glossary of Greek and Latin words and terms.