Peer into the Playbill

Join us for engaging panels featuring special guests as they explore the themes and issues presented in the 2025 playbill. Artists, directors and scholars will share insights into the creative processes behind the productions and their relevance in today’s world.

Storytelling and the Oral Tradition from Mythology to Modernity

Join us for an engaging exploration of storytelling as a transformative force with playwright Erin Shields, Professor Jill Carter and others where we’ll trace the origins of Greek epic poetry, from its roots in oral tradition to its eventual transition to the page. 

The panel will discuss what ancient oral and written literature have to do with contemporary storytelling and explore the human impulse of sharing stories as a way of understanding the world.

Focusing on texts like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, conversation will consider the evolutions of these texts through performances, including contemporary adaptations like Erin Shields’ Ransacking Troy. While looking at how these narratives shape our understanding of myth and culture today, the reason why such stories carry enduring relevance in contemporary storytelling traditions will also be examined. An illuminating event for any interested in how timeless tales continue to influence our perception of the world.