Il Popolo e i suoi servi

The People and its servants Fifth-century Athens, and the so-called “Old Comedy”, offer us a chance to reflect on the origin of “populism”, on the complex idea of “democracy”, on the possible interactions between politics and theatre. One comedy above all, Aristophanes’ Knights (424 b.C) fits so well the actual issues of international politics that its adaptations and performances are increasingly frequent and effective: the plot, based on the timeless allegory of Athens as the old Demos’ House, displays and reveals on scene the basic techniques used by demagogues (ancient and modern) anticipating Chomsky’s “Manufacturing Consent” with significant implications ever since