Welcome to the Phoenix TIE Study Pages

These pages have been put together with the intention of widening your outlook on the texts you are studying and we are producing, and possibly giving you another viewpoint from which to examine the plays.

They are NOT meant as a substitute for classes. That is where all your real work and the beginnings of your understanding will come from. Our objective is to bring the texts to life, and to offer you fresh perspectives to challenge your assumptions.

It is entirely possible that many people will disagree with our take on these plays, and this is no bad thing.

The most important point to remember when studying any piece of drama or literature is that there is no right or wrong, only objective views which are as valid as you can make them. The trick is to be able to substantiate your views, and argue your case. But remember, the only evidence you have is the text. Yes you can bring in other works, and yes you can bring in other playwrights, to compare and contrast, but in the end if it isn't in the text it really is just speculative.

On the flipside, and this is what makes drama and literature so much fun, and so frustrating, everything is open to interpretation, if it can be justified in the script.

We want to help you to understand these plays a little better. Hopefully, our productions and these notes will go some way to achieving our goals.

Eventually we will place a forum and message board on the site to enable you to discuss the plays, their plots, themes, structures and characters, and to ask questions that others may have the answers to. And we will get actors, directors and teachers to drop in from time to time with observations, comments, and answers that will help you on your way.

Most importantly these are YOUR pages, so your feedback is vital if we are to get it right for you. Feel free to email us with any questions, observations or requests. We will look at everything seriously and accomodate what we can.