The Department of Classics is passionately committed to encouraging as wide an audience as possible to engage with the study of the Classical world. We focus our efforts focus on three main areas:

• Outreach - working both directly with schools and institutions across the country as well as through some of the University of Warwick's dedicated outreach initiatives to increase access to the study of the Classical world.
• Engagement - engaging directly with the wider public in various forms about the Classical world.
• Widening participation - working through several of the University's dedicated widening participation teams with prioritised school communities local to the University.

The activities listed below, which speak to one or more of these areas of focus, are a sample of those undertaken by our Department, individual staff members and students.

If you would like further information about the Department's activities, and how you can get involved, do get in touch with Dr Michael Scott m dot c dot scott at warwick dot ac dot uk.

In 2015-6, the Warwick Classics outreach team will be: Departmental Outreach Officer (Dr Michael Scott); Outreach Assistant (Kathryn Thompson); and Classics Ambassadors (Ben Howarth, Hannah Dignum, Adam Copley, Jesse Chambers, Eleanor Sansom, Georgia Whitehead).



ANCIENT DRAMA FESTIVAL FOR SCHOOLS 2018,

WARWICK ARTS CENTRE

Public Lecture by Prof. Basil Dufallo, University of Michigan (IAS International Visting Fellow in Classics, 2018)

This public lecture, 'Disorienting Empire: Poetry and Imperial Expansion in Ancient Rome', will be given by Prof. Basil Dufallo on 2nd March, 2018, at 6.15, in Oculus 0.03. This lecture is ideal for students of Classics, Classical Civilisation Classical Archaeology & Ancient History at GCSE, A level and beyond.

Public Lecture by Prof Alastair Blanshard, IAS Visiting Fellow in Classics 2016

The public lecture 'The Greeks and Us' given by Prof Alastair Blanshard (University of Queensland, Australia) while he was based at Warwick as IAS Visiting Fellow, is now available to view as a video and as a podcast. The public lecture, and the video, were kindly sponsored by the Warwick Faculty of Arts and GRP Connecting Cultures. This lecture is ideal for students of Classics, Classical Civilisation Classical Archaeology & Ancient History at GCSE, A level and beyond.

The Greeks and Us - Audio Podcast of Public Lecture by Prof Alastair Blanshard

School and association talks and events

Department staff members and the Outreach Assistant regularly give school talks both in the local Warwick area and nationally (and internationally) to age groups from 10 to 18. Staff members also often give talks as part of extra-curricular 'Classical world' days organised by institutions like the British Museum for UK schools, as well as at events held for those teaching Classical world subjects at school (e.g. ARLT, BASS). Staff members and students are also active in a number of Warwick University initiatives and teams engaging with communities across the country to increase access to and enjoyment of education (e.g. IGGY).

The following staff members and post-graduates are willing to give talks to schools. Please contact them directly to arrange a convenient time:

Dr Alison Cooley - a dot cooley at warwick dot ac dot uk Topics: Roman Italy; Pompeii; Augustus; Roman inscriptions

Prof. Zahra Newby - zahra dot newby at warwick dot ac dot uk Topics: Ancient athletics, Art in Roman world, Myth and Art, Death and Commemoration in the Roman world, Roman housing

Dr Michael Scott - m dot c dot scott at warwick dot ac dot uk Topics: Ancient Greek history, archaeology, religion, Classics and TV.

Dr Emmanuela Bakola - e dot bakola at warwick dot ac dot uk Topics: Ancient Greek Drama

Dr Victoria Rimell - v.rimell@warwick.ac.uk. Topics: Latin and Greek literature, Roman thought, Classical reception

Dr Elena Giusti - e.giusti@warwick.ac.uk. Topics: Latin and Greek Literature, Roman thought, Classical reception

Dr David Fearn - d.fearn@warwick.ac.uk. Topics: Greek Literature and thought, Classical reception.

Dr Clare Rowan - c.rowan@warwick.ac.uk. Topics: Roman history, numismatics

Mr Clive Letchford C dot A dot Letchford at warwick dot ac dot uk Topics: Learning Latin and Greek

Ms. Vicky Jewell v dot jewell at warwick dot ac dot uk Topics: Roman art and archaeology; colour in Greek and Roman worlds

Ms Kathryn Thompson k dot e dot thompson at warwick dot ac dot uk Topics: Reception of the Classical World

Ashmolean Inscriptions Project Engagement Events

The Ashmolean Inscriptions project, led by Prof Alison Cooley, held two engagement events in 2015:

Friday 30th October: DEAD Friday at the Ashmolean Museum. For more details click here

Sunday 22nd November 2015: BIG Sunday: Remembering the Romans at the Ashmolean. For more details click here

Histories of Freedom of Speech, Ancient and Modern

This event on Tuesday 17th November brought together leading experts in Freedom of Speech for a public discussion as part of the HRF Freedom of Speech season. There will also be a special performance of part of the Warwick Classics society play Aristophanes Thesmophoriazusae.

Undergraduate Classics Play and Drama Workshop Day

The Undergraduate Classics Society puts on an annual ancient drama at the University of Warwick. This production is chosen, designed, directed and acted in entirely by Warwick students. In recent years, this has also been linked to a series of workshop events for local schools, exploring the role of drama in ancient society and the processes of production for the play. These workshops and lectures are lead both by students and staff members.

25th January 2016 - Warwick Classics Ancient Drama Day for Schools

In 2016 Aristophanes Lysistrata was performed in the main theatre of Warwick University's prestigious Arts Centre by the Warwick Classics Students. Watch the play:

Previous Ancient Drama days:

In 2015 the Warwick Classics Drama Festival presented a production of Aristophanes Thesmophoriazusae, surrounded by lectures and talks to over 560 attending school students (supported by grants from IATL, IAS, HRF and SPHS). In 2014 Warwick Classics Society produced Plautus' Pseudolus as part of an Schools' Ancient Theatre day, attended by 125 school children and teachers from across the country, supported by a Humanities Research Fund Impact Grant. In 2013 - Euripides Bacchae was performed by the students to sell out audiences from the local area. In 2012, Aristophanes' Clouds was performed, alongside a drama workshop day for local schools. At the Student Union Society Awards, the Classics Society won Warwick Volunteers Community Award for these workshops.

Feedback on past workshops:

'Students thought the facilities were lovely, and really enjoyed going to a University to explore what it would be like. We were clearly guided as to where things were, and found everyone very helpful. It has re-confirmed for them that they want to go to University, and appreciated exploring whilst feeling comfortable with who they were with.'

'The performance was hilarious! It was really useful for the students to see how you had modernised the context (something they will also do for Lysistrata but without re-writing any part of it). It really appealed to their sense of humour (they loved, loved, loved the Harry Potter puppets!) so you pitched it just right. Well done to all involved - the students said they haven't laughed so much in ages!'

'Now that I know more about ancient theatre, I am able to understand plays more. I think I enjoy theatre more now'

'The day opened my mind up to how Roman theatre worked, and what was considered entertainment'

'Today's talks have inspired me to research more into classics'

'Today has taught me that Greek theatre is still just as important in today's society'

University taster days

Working in conjunction with the University of Warwick's Widening Participation group, the Department of Classics contributes to a number of University 'Taster' days. These are designed for students from prioritised schools local to Warwick, and different days target different age groups. In 2013-4, staff and students from the Department of Classics led interactive sessions about the ancient gods with students age 12-15 on several 'Taster' days.

For more details on the taster days and other activities offered by the University, click here.

Wider engagement activities

Staff members are involved in numerous kinds of engagement activities both linked to Warwick and further afield, such as contributing to the University's Knowledge Centre articles; as well as developing their own Vodcasts and working with national and international broadcasters on radio and TV programmes. For more details, see the individual staff pages.