Share your love of Classics with Boris Johnson, Bettany Hughes and aod, in support of the charity Classics for All, in a spectacular venue with panoramic views of London.

On Thursday 18th September 2014 we will be performing at London’s Living room hosted byBoris Johnson.

It is a fundraising event in support of the charity Classics for All who provide launch-aid funding to help schools get classical subjects off the ground. Classics is well-known in improving pupils’ literacy and language skills and who believe it should be accessible to all.

For more information on the event and tickets please click here

On Sat 12th July aod held a small launch of their new Sappho CD The Sweetness of Honey at a private house in London.  The evening was  a great success and there was much enjoyment to be had.  To view pics of the event please click here

Poems of Sappho (based on translations by David Stuttard and Josephine Balmer) are read by Fenella Fielding and Tamsin Shasha, and set to music by Emma Hetherington, who performs them with Rebecca Vučetić.

Reviews of the CD include: ‘Who could possibly resist this? Charismatic, sensuous, sublime: Imagine yourself under Sappho’s silvery moon, the warm wind of her beloved Lesbos around you, the oak leaves shivering; our poet and her lovely girls your companions. A lyrical delight.’ (Bettany Hughes) 

Sappho’s is the first female voice in western literature. Today only some of her poetry survives, but it remains as startlingly fresh as it was when it was first written around 600 BC. With subjects ranging from love and desire to old age and sorrow, Sappho’s verses not only transport us to the flowering meadows of ancient Lesbos, but speak to us directly of emotions with which are are all familiar. For a preview please  click here

2014 sees aod celebrate its 21st birthday.  For this occasion we have produced a special anniversary brochure detailing aodProductions, aodEducation and aodEvents.  To download a copy please click here.  If you would like a printed version please do get in touch with us here

aod have been working with David Stuttard on a new collection of spoken Sappho poetry and poems set to music called The Sweetness of Honey.

Saturday 12th July in London, so do This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Numbers are strictly limited so contact us early to reserve a place.

Audio CD. Actors of Dionysus. Total playing time: 37’ 39”

Produced by aod, the poems of Sappho (based on translations by David Stuttard and Josephine Balmer) are read by Fenella Fielding and Tamsin Shasha, and set to music by Emma Hetherington, who performs them with Rebecca Vučetić.

Who could possibly resist this? Charismatic, sensuous, sublime: Imagine yourself under Sappho’s silvery moon, the warm wind of her beloved Lesbos around you, the oak leaves shivering; our poet and her lovely girls your companions. A lyrical delight

Bettany Hughes

Sappho’s is the first female voice in western literature. Today only some of her poetry survives, but it remains as startlingly fresh as it was when it was first written around 600 BC. With subjects ranging from love and desire to old age and sorrow, Sappho’s verses not only transport us to the flowering meadows of ancient Lesbos, but speak to us directly of emotions with which are are all familiar.

This CD contains fifteen of Sappho’s poems, many translated especially for the collection, and including one which was discovered and published for the first time in 2014. In addition, nine of the poems (together with a haunting inscription from a fifth-century BC Athenian gravestone) have been set to music by Emma Hetherington, who performs them with Rebecca Vučetić, accompanied on instruments ranging from piano and guitar to harp and double bass.

For a sneak preview please listen here:

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Bettany Hughes in discussion with David Stuttard on the subject of Medea and C5th BC Women as broadcast at Rose Theatre Kingston as part of aod’s run with Medea from 12th – 15th Nov 2013.

This Autumn (Nov 11-15th) aod return to the Rose Theatre Kingston with a new production of Euripides’ masterpiece of sexual jealousy and revenge, Medea.

This new production of Medea will combine powerful text, dynamic imagery and aerial dance to create a visceral and visual feast. The residency will include pre-performance talks by eminent academics and post show discussions with the artistic team. For further information please go to the Rose Theatre website

On 18th November 2010 Tamsin was interviewed by BBC Radio Leeds presenter, Andrew Edwards. This was to coincide with the company’s sell-out performance of Lysistrata at Square Chapel in Halifax. After a shaky start the interview became very entertaining indeed……

Yes – very nigh. The nigh is now – tonight in fact. The last performance of aod’s Autumn tour of Lysistrata will be performed tonight at The Old Town Hall in Hemel Hempstead. To all of those attending tonight, and indeed any other nights you may have attended – I hope the evening is, and was, hugely enjoyable.

There has been a great response to aod’s version of Lysistrata and this first foray into comedy could be the start of something kinda funny. You will be kept posted on future performances and goings-on of course. Check the website for the latest news or you could even join up to our aod e-news!

As for me – well I’m gonna have to bid you a fond farewell dear reader (I know there must be at least one of you out there). I’ve finished for the season as they are inclined to say in the more theatrical circles. Actually finished yesterday – but I just had to have the chance to say goodbye, so cheerio.

HB

Well the rumours are true, it’s official – Lysistrata is sold out in London!

But luckily we have  added a matinee so all of you late-comers still have a chance to get tickets. The matinee starts at 2:30 pm at the Shaw Theatre, Euston Road, London and will be followed by an exclusive book signing by David Stuttard  – translator and adaptor of aod’s Lysistrata. If you already have tickets – he will also be signing his book ‘Looking at Lysistrata’ after the evening performances on 8th and 9th November. And if you don’t already have tickets to the show – make haste!

HB

Lysistratais well and truly out there. The tour has been all over the country and has been shown to many a full house. From the Buxton Opera House, to the Jersey Arts Centre, Norwich Playhouse and the Borough Theatre in Abergavenny to name but a few. Lysistrata continues to infiltrate the country, after a quick break next week, the show goes on from 2nd November at Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis. Yes apparently the actors need a week to recover from the rigours of the touring life and to stock up on rations before they hit the road for the second and final leg; which sees a heady debut at the Shaw Theatre in London, for not 1, not 2, but 3 performances!An extra matinee is taking place on Tuesday 9th November at 2:30 pm, as well as the 7:30 pm performances  on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th November. And I’m going to be allowed out of the office once more! So book your tickets quick and I’ll see you anon.

HB

We are delighted and grateful to have received funding from The Arts Council England toward our forthcoming autumn national tour of Lysistrata. The funding will enable us to realise the full potential of the show and continue our development toward new artistic territory. It  has also enabled us to welcome Helen Blesky as our new Development Officer. Helen will be adding regularly to this blog, and will be far less sedate than I am so be prepared ………..!

You may have noticed that we have introduced a donate button to this site as we still need to raise other financial support towards the tour. Please click here if you are feeling generous.

TS

A few weeks ago (that’s how up to date I am with blogs!) a researcher from Radio 4’s Today programme enquired as to whether aod would be interested in recording a short piece about the Economic Crisis in Greece – all roads led to us she said!  Hardly containing my excitement but managing to sound calmly interested I said that we might be able to fit something in.  Seconds later I was on the blower to David Stuttard (regular aod writer) and thereafter sounded out a few local, Brighton-based actors and after further discussion and David putting pen to paper, Economus Wrecked was born.  We hope it may the first of many recordings for the Beeb, so watch this space!

Listen here:(sound cloud link)

After a fantastic night at Spruce Wood Kingston on July 4th we have been invited to perform the play at Allington Castle onSunday 27th September. For more details click here

On June 23rd AOD appeared at Bradfield College for their inaugural Arts Festival.  Mark Katz, David Stuttard and Tamsin Shasha spent a day running workshops in their wonderful outdoor theatre and Tamsin also appeared on a panel discussion examining Theatre in Society in the wake of the Warwick Commission.  The whole event was a great success and we hope it will be the first of many appearances at this wonderful venue…..watch this space

Lysistrata will be back on the road next Spring for a limited season only.  Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and details of how to host a performance…..

For information on current tour dates, please click here