Roman Comedy 101: A (Very) Theatrical Introduction
About the performance
You’re late for class! Join us for a new take on an old play, where education meets entertainment. In this irreverent lecture-gone-wrong, you won’t just learn about Roman comedy - you’ll have a chance to shape the action.
A lively chorus of characters will sample scenes from Pseudolus, a classic Roman comedy. You’ll travel to ancient Rome where the slave Pseudolus must use all his cunning to help his young master, Infatuatus, rescue his girlfriend-cum-courtesan before she is sold to the brutish Macedonian soldier, Mr Hack-and-Slash. Translated and adapted by Meg Challis, this is a farcical tale that displays Plautus at the pinnacle of his wittiest wisecracks and most riotous ribaldry.
Led by a long-suffering Lecturer, you'll uncover the voices of women, enslaved people and others often overlooked in traditional accounts of the ancient world.
What to expect:
A bawdy 60-minute stage play that requests audience participation which is entirely optional.
Content advisory
The performance contains discussions and references to physical and sexual violence, sexual innuendo, and mature themes, including the experience of enslaved peoples. While there are no explicit depictions of violence or sexual activity, viewer discretion is advised. Parental supervision recommended for audience members under the age of fifteen.
Being Human 2026
This project was produced in collaboration with the 2026 Being Human Festival. Founded in the UK as the only national festival of the humanities, Being Human is now a global celebration dedicated to demonstrating the breadth, diversity and vitality of the humanities.
About the performers
Meg Challis
Meg Challis is currently undertaking a PhD in Classics & Archaeology at the University of Melbourne as the recipient of the Elizabeth and James Tatoulis PhD Scholarship in Classics. Her dissertation explores the reciprocal relationship between translation and reception, with a specific focus on the Greek poet Sappho. Meg’s first formal foray into the world of Plautus was in her Honours thesis, 'Lost in Translation: Creating Accessible Translations of Roman Comedy for the Classroom'. This research was inspired by a love for the power of theatre and comedy to connect across cultures, and the differences she noticed between teaching texts in Latin and English. Her thesis was awarded the 2024 Alexander Leeper Prize and the accompanying translation ('Plautus, Pseudolus, 1.1-2') was longlisted for BCLA’s 2023 John Dryden Translation Competition.
Jade Cotsanis
Jade is a first-year PhD student at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on pharaonic assassinations and burials in ancient Egypt.
Teo Haines
Teo is a recent graduate from rural Western Victoria, receiving a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne primarily focused on history, media studies, and German. He currently works in retail, although he eventually aspires to use his voice for work. His passion for ancient history and Stoic philosophy have played an important role in shaping his everyday outlook, and he is excited to learn more about Plautus during this production!
Peggy Wednesday Lucas
Peggy is completing her PhD on Early Bronze Age mortuary practices in the South Caucasus. She works as an archaeologist with the Georgian-Australian Investigations into Archaeology (GAIA) project, undertaking excavations in south-west Georgia. She has also worked as a production manager for high school theatre performances in Melbourne.
Charli Phillipps
Charli Phillipps is a PhD Candidate in Classics & Archaeology at the University of Melbourne. Archaeology. Her thesis examines how masculinity and warriorhood was conceptualised in Early Iron Age Greek iconographical practices. She is interested in approaches to incorporating gender studies into archaeological analysis and creating new frameworks for interpreting non-normative images from the past. Charli is the recipient of the Jessie Webb Scholarship and the Australian Archaeological Institute of Athens Higher Degree by Research Fellowship.
Further information
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