Bryan Doerries On the Power of Greek Tragedy and Seneca’s Plays

Feb 3, 2021

Bryan Doerries, founder of Theater of War and advocate for using ancient Greek plays in healing, discusses the transformative power of theater. He emphasizes how Greek tragedies can help service members and veterans process trauma, bridging traditional literary elitism with personal experience. Doerries connects Stoicism and suffering to highlight the universality of struggles while encouraging a more relatable approach to these works. He also explores the ethical dimensions of theater, illustrating its potential as both a healing tool and a platform for social commentary.

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ADVICE

Accessibility of Ancient Plays

Don't be intimidated by ancient Greek plays or their authors' names.
Focus on the universal themes and your own experiences.

ANECDOTE

Isosceles and Sophocles

A Marine mispronounced Sophocles' name as "Isosceles" during a Theater of War production.
Doerries didn't correct him, prioritizing the conversation over pronunciation.

INSIGHT

Misconceptions about Classics

The original pronunciation of Greek playwrights' names is unknown.
Their works were appropriated by colonialists, creating class barriers.

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On today’s episode, Ryan speaks to writer Bryan Doerries about his work in familiarizing service members and veterans with ancient Greek plays, the military history of Greek playwrights, how the performance of theatre can be a useful tool for healing, and more.

Bryan Doerries is the founder of Theater of War, a project that presents readings of ancient Greek plays to service members, veterans, and their families. He has written several books including The Theater of War: What Ancient Tragedies Can Teach Us Today.

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