Children examine sketches

Communicating Ancient Greece and Rome 2 - Projects Showcase

The Communicating Ancient Greece and Rome (CAGR) two-year training programmes were organised by the APGRD for doctoral students and early career researchers interested in public engagement and collaborative skills development. They involved a series of interactive sessions that explored the creative potential for making research on ancient Greece and Rome accessible and relevant to a variety of audiences.

During the programmes, each participant forged their own relationship with a professional partner to design and deliver a high-quality public engagement programme. The AHRC generously funded both CAGR programmes, including the provision of a £2000 budget for each participant project in the second phase. 

Here we showcase and celebrate the amazing projects which came from the second phase of the programme, from animations to cookery courses, and from landscape gardening to TV-style news.

Click here for information about the projects from the first phase of CAGR.

The projects

A Midlands Odyssey - Polly Stoker

Polly commissioned ten writers to reimagine an episode of Homer’s Odyssey in a contemporary Midlands’ setting.

Adapting Ancient Greek Drama in the Modern World - Emma Cole and Rosa Andújar

Emma and Rosa devised a series of workshops, centred around the adaptation of ancient drama for contemporary film and theatre, which guided attendees towards creating their own adaptations. 

Adventures with Odysseus - Emma Bridges

An interactive retelling of the Odyssey using music and rhymes, aimed at toddlers and their parents. Initially delivered at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and later shared with families, schools and community groups across York.

Adventures with the Ancients - Jenny Zhao

Jenny created a children’s picture book that tells the story of a little girl who befriends Socrates and Confucius on a trip to the museum. 

Ancient fragments - Laura Swift

Laura developed a performance inspired by the fragmentary plays of Euripides, and the methodology of working with fragments. 

Arcadia: Behind the pleasure grounds of Kedleston Hall - Julie Baleriaux

Julie’s project investigated how the reception of ancient literature influenced the landscaping of Kedleston Hall’s eighteenth century Classical Pleasure Ground.

Classicicity - Ruth Allen

Ruth curated CLASSICICITY  - an exhibition at the Breese Little gallery, which juxtaposed ancient and contemporary art inspired by the Classics. 

Classics in the Curriculum - Alison Rosenblitt

Alison collaborated with several secondary schools, the East Oxford Community Classics Centre, and Massolit to devise and deliver talks to school groups on a variety of Classical themes.

Every Soldier Has A Story - Sonya Nevin

Sonya's project invited the public to engage imaginatively with ancient warfare through ancient pottery. 

Olympus News - Stephen Harrison

Stephen's project aimed to engage new audiences with important debates from ancient history by presenting the evidence as modern TV news broadcasts.

School trips with The Iris Project - Jennifer Hilder

Jennifer's project strengthened existing links between the University of Glasgow, The Hunterian Museum, and primary schools in the east end of Glasgow where Classics students teach Latin through The Iris Project. 

Shapeshifters - Justine McConnell

Justine's Shapeshifters brought together award-winning poet, playwright, and hip-hop artist Kate Tempest with classicist and translator Henry Stead for an evening of contemporary poetry and performance.

The Herodotus Debate - Anthony Ellis

Anthony's project aimed to bring Herodotus to a new audience, with a collection of beautiful animated films alongside a series of immersive workshops and performances.

Understanding Museums - Maria Lloyd

Maria’s project focussed on making museums more accessible to deaf, visually impaired, and ethnic minority groups. 

Wilde in Oxford - Iarla Manny

Iarla is producing an audio guided walking tour of Oxford based around Oscar Wilde’s time in the city as a Classics student at Magdalen College from 1874 to 1878.