Modernità di Euripide. Per una prospettiva drammaturgica

ABSTRACT. Ancient Attic theatre is technically limited and, therefore, it is a type of theatre based on convention, in which the acoustic part prevails over the visual ele- ment. The latter is characteristic of modern theatre, which is also defined as a theatre of realism and illusion: in it, in fact, when the curtain rises, the audience 'sees' the pla- ce and time of the action on stage thanks to the use of lighting and of movable scenic elements. On the basis of an analysis of the staging of Medea and Bacchae, the author tries to show that Euripides, while respecting the conventions of ancient performing arts, resorts to dramatic choices which put the audience in a position to 'see', there- fore committing to the history of theatre the presuppositions of modern dramaturgy.