News ‘Clouds’ at the KCL’s Greenwood Theatre 04.03.2026

On Tuesday evening, 15 classicists in Year 10 to the Upper Sixth headed to King’s College London’s (KCL) Greenwood Theatre to watch Aristophanes’ classic comedy Clouds.

This was a lively and thought-provoking introduction to ancient Greek comedy for many, while for the A Level Classical Civilisation pupils it was a wonderful opportunity to see the work of one of their prescribed authors performed on stage. Meanwhile, students of Ancient Greek were particularly excited to hear the language brought to life on the stage by the chorus, who performed sections of the play in the original language.

While remaining rooted in Aristophanes’ exuberant comedy, the production leaned into the play’s satirical edge, highlighting its exploration of persuasive speech, intellectual fashion and the temptations of public life. Students were struck by how a play first performed in ancient Athens still speaks to contemporary questions, particularly about the use of soundbites and spin in political discourse.

This was a wonderful and engaging performance, and our students returned home at the end of the evening both culturally enlightened and recovering from stitches of laughter.