[David]

Does anyone know if, where and how regularly plays are performed in the Athens area, as they would have been in Ancient Athens (i.e. masks, Ancient Greek, chorus in the orchestra etc.)? I can't seem to find much on Google.

I was thinking of having a few days over there, and fancy seeing something as original as I can get!

[Poly]

It is very rare that ancient greek plays are performed in ancient greek. It will be like being in england and performing a play in latin. There is an education / novelty factor but hardly anyone understands anything. Ancient greek plays are performed in modern greek tranlsations and are produced like any other play. It's down to the director how many ancient greek elements they want to keep at the production. Comedies are modernised much more than tragedies.

Your chances are much better during the summer, May to September, check the Hellenic festival in Athens and Epidayros, the productions are any performing art from all over the world, but there are always ancient greek plays. Also, during the summer, several productions will be touring the many open theatres in greece.

[Abby]

If you're interested in Greek plays done in the original language, King's College London puts one on every year - http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/humanities/classics/play

Studied there many years ago, never ever went to see one of them!

[appoppins]

The last time a play was performed in Ancient Greek in Athens was in September 2004 (and the reviews were not very good!). I don't think it is very likely to happen again in the near future but, as Poly mentions, there are several productions of Ancient Greek plays performed in Modern Greek every summer all over Greece.