Why has theatre held such a central place in Classical Education? From the Festival of Dionysia in ancient Athens to the Cycle Plays of the medieval Church and the poetic brilliance of Shakespeare, theatre has served not merely as entertainment but as a training ground for virtue and the moral imagination. This seminar traces the history of theatre’s educational purpose within the classical tradition—showing how theatre was viewed by the Greeks as a training ground for rhetoricians, by the Humanists as a heightened form of mimesis, and as the logical precursor of the elocutionist movement of the Enlightenment. Participants will explore how ancient theories of imitation and catharsis connect to CCE classrooms, and how dramatic reading activities and fully realized theatrical performances can still cultivate wisdom and eloquence in students today. The talk concludes with practical ideas for reintegrating theatre into a classical curriculum.

Pamela Harwood has been a theatre practitioner for more than 50 years, working as an actor, director, and theatre educator at the community, elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels. She has taught theatre in CCE schools on both coasts and brings a clear vision for the power of embodied storytelling and the pursuit of excellence in theatrical practice. Her work continues to champion the formative role of theatre in cultivating imagination, virtue, and eloquence in students. Soli Deo Gloria.