Stories from the Sands

In 2024, an astonishing discovery was made. An Egyptian archaeological team, excavating an ancient necropolis, uncovered a papyrus containing nearly 100 lines from lost plays by the Greek playwright Euripides. The find gives us insight into two plays very different in mood but connected by the death of children. The first tells a typical story of tragic vengeance, female scheming, and sexual jealousy. The second depicts a grieving father who refuses to accept his child’s death… and turns out to be right not to do so.

Oxford University and Professor Laura Swift (Classics) have commissioned three artists who have spent the last few months learning about these discoveries and developing their own creative responses. On 11^th June, they will be giving us a glimpse into their work and the process behind it.

Join us for an afternoon at the Magdalen auditorium to:

• Play a new interactive game exploring the connections across centuries. What choices will you make, and how will they change the stories we tell about the past?
• Watch a performance which blends rites and rituals from the ancient world, the drama of Euripides, the yearning for immortality of human beings everywhere and a dash of magic and mysticism from online marketplaces.
• Hear about a new artwork bringing together the ancient myths with the experiences of people today who care for the dead.

And of course to learn more about the lost plays themselves, what we know about them and what we are still learning.

The event is free to attend, but please do book your place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stories-from-the-sands-tickets-1989535711871?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true