Punchdrunk on the Classics

Punchdrunk on the Classics: Experiencing Immersion in The Burnt City and Beyond draws attention to Punchdrunk’s use of ancient Greek literature in their creation of immersive theatre. The book documents and analyses the effects of utilising Greek tragedy within both Punchdrunk’s creative development windows, and the company’s final staged productions. It features material stretching from The House of Oedipus (2000) right through to The Burnt City (2022-23), on which the author worked as dramaturg. Chapters include rehearsal studies, explorations of how Greek literature can shape an audience’s experience in immersive theatre, and considerations of how The Burnt City might change our understanding of the poetics of immersion in antiquity. Overall, Punchdrunk on the Classics provides an unparalleled depth of insight into an individual Punchdrunk production, and highlights the until-now overlooked significance of antiquity within Punchdrunk’s practice.

Winner of the 2024 Rob Jordan Prize for Theatre and Performance Studies.