Writer and comedian Natalie Haynes delivered the Holyoake Lecture 2015 in Manchester on Monday night to a packed audience. The event was hosted by the British Humanist Association (BHA), of which Natalie Haynes is a Patron, and the Greater Manchester Humanists.
In her lecture, Natalie gave a fascinating and often hilarious account of how humanist perspectives were deeply embedded within ancient Greek drama. She then went on to trace how the influence of these great dramatic works could be felt in most contemporary storytelling.
After exploring the origins of stage tragedy itself, Natalie described climactic moments from Greek tragedies that would make even hardened Game of Thrones fans squirm, before offering a peek behind the curtain and into the soap opera writers’ room as she identified the influence of Greek tragedies in the development of gripping narratives and sensational storylines today. She also noted where modern drama could learn a thing or two from the Greeks by arguing that the portrayal of strong, three-dimensional women in ancient Greek tragedy was far better than modern portrayals of women on film and on screen.
Natalie’s lecture was followed by a free-flowing question and answer session, facilitated by BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson. Questions ranged from the influences of the Ancient Greeks on popular shows like Doctor Who to the representation of women characters, who were always portrayed by men.
After the lecture, Andrew Copson said, ‘The cultural influences of the Ancient Greeks can be seen all around us; from our democracy, to our architecture, to – as we learned – the way our favourite soaps play out on TV. Natalie was the perfect Holyoake Lecturer to guide us through some of the world’s greatest pieces of literature: warm, funny, and with a genuine love and enthusiasm for her chosen topic.’
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The lecture was recorded and will be uploaded to youtube.com/britishhumanists soon.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.