The Arts Theatre of Cambridge University has resumed presenting ‘Cambridge Greek Play’, which features classical plays all performed in Ancient Greek.

According to the Cambridge Independent, it is “a tradition that stretches back 130 years… Students will act in the earliest surviving Greek tragedy, Persians by Aeschylus, and the only remaining satyr play, Cyclops by Euripides, each with English surtitles above the stage.”

Director Daniel Goldman said, “it’s an amazing experience hearing these plays performed in the original Greek, because you can experience the sound and the poetry of the language. The surtitles are easy to follow and although they don’t translate every word they do tell the story. The actors are doing so well at learning their lines.”

He added that, “the Greek Play at Cambridge is an incredible institution – it has been performed every three years, even during the wars. What’s amazing about these two plays is I think neither Persians nor Cyclops has ever been done for the Cambridge Greek Play in 130 years.”

The article notes that for Persians Aeschylus drew on recent Greek history and Cyclops is derived from Homer’s Odyssey.