Introducing Sock and Buskin

We’ve been working with our friends at Hitchin based Aitch:creative to develop design elements for the Stories from The Gordon Craig project.

The ever playful team at Aitch:creative have given us a cheeky take on the Ancient Greek theatre masks of comedy and tragedy that have become a recognisable symbol of drama performance.

Our friends over at The Gordon Craig Theatre use these masks in their logo too.

Greek tragedy was a popular and influential form of drama performed in outdoor theatres across Ancient Greece from the late 6th century BCE. Plays by Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides are still often performed today, centuries after their creation. Greek tragedy led to the development of Greek comedy and, together, these genres formed the foundation upon which all modern theatre is based.

Derived from Greek mythology, the theatrical masks became symbols of the Ancient Greek muses, or protectors, Thalia and Melpomene. Melpomene, the muse of tragedy, is often depicted holding the tragic mask and wearing buskins (Latin Cothurnus), a boot that actors playing tragic roles wore which elevated them above the other actors. Thalia, the muse of comedy, is similarly associated with the mask of comedy and the thin soled shoes or socks (Latin Soccus) worn by actors in comedy roles.

Say hello to Sock and Buskin!