Ancient and modern observers of the Roman court have often characterized it as a fundamentally theatrical space. Court ‘performances’ therefore included senators flattering the imperial family, imperial family members costumed as deities, conspirators disguising their intentions, and the emperor himself, who could play a variety of roles. But performance in the formal sense was also central to court culture, so this chapter explores the sorts of performances occurring in court contexts (tragedy, comedy, pantomime, storytelling, etc.). It also examines the wider role in the court of the (often low-status) performers, including actors, pantomime dancers, storytellers, and jesters. They fundamentally shaped the court’s cultural life, and could themselves be powerful, popular, and wealthy. But they were also disposable court bodies with precarious court positions, since their performances could incite political controversy, and they stood in the place of others who wanted closer access to the emperor.

Demonstrates that music was a vital part of the daily routines of those interned in prisoner of war camps. The forming of orchestras and theatrical revues were a popular way of passing the time and maintaining morale, but in many cases musical activities were used by prisoners of war to conceal attempts to escape. This chapter will give examples of how prisoners of war used music as a means of keeping up their morale to stave off feelings of ‘mouldiness,’ later identified as barbed wire disease.