Aristophanes in Greek shadow theatre: codification and adaptation ofPeaceandFrogsperformed by Evgenios Spatharis

After an introduction considering the reception of Aristophanic comedy and the significance of shadow theatre in modern Greek culture, this article explores the possibilities of adapting Aristophanes’ plays to the latter art form. Using Evgenios Spatharis’ shadow performances of Peace (c. 1986) and Frogs (1978) as case studies, I examine the way obscenity is handled and roles are allocated. These adaptations are viewed in relation to the generic prerequisites rather than just the medium of Greek shadow theatre, which is characterized by a high level of codification.