PubTalks #006 Zero to Hero: Ancient Mythology in Modern Musicals

🎟️ Ticket includes: Access to talk & drink voucher

🗓️ Date: September 25th, 2025

🕡 Time: 6:30 PM

📍 Location: The Trinity Arms (Brixton)

📚 Topic: Zero to Hero: Ancient Mythology in Modern Musicals

🎤 Speaker: Ffion Smith

Zero to Hero: Ancient Mythology in Modern Musicals

Ancient Greek and Roman myths can play a big part in our childhoods. Not only do we learn about them in school, but mythic monsters, heroes, gods and goddesses from the Greco-Roman world have inspired all sorts of children’s entertainment, from comic books to novels, movies and cartoons. Currently, Greco-Roman hero myths are experiencing a boom in musical theatre, an art form which is incredibly popular amongst children and young people today. In 2025, mythical musicals Hadestown, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical and Hercules all played London’s West End, each production fostering passionate young fanbases.

But why do we continue to be interested in ancient myths and heroes today? Why do we associate mythology with childhood? And what happens when we tell these myths through song and dance?

In this talk, we’ll be exploring the exuberant world of Greco-Roman musicals and their current obsession with ancient heroes. Through discussion of Hercules, Hadestown and The Lightning Thief, all musicals which play with iconic Greek hero myths in radical ways, we will question the role of the hero in both the ancient and modern worlds. Do ancient heroes have to be made ‘suitable’ for modern children? And what kind of impact can childhood engagements with myths have on us as we grow up?

Agenda

6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat, order food and drinks

6:55 PM – Host introduction

7:00 PM – Lecture begins

7:45 PM – Interval

8:00 PM – Audience Q&A

8:30 PM – 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests

9:00 PM – Wrap up