Bacchae

Director Javor Gardev’s production transforms the ancient tragedy into a painfully relevant story about power, the fear of difference, and the forces that a society attempts to suppress.

“If Dionysus is not welcomed into the city, sooner or later he will tear it apart from within,” says Javor Gardev of the production’s central idea.

The world-renowned British trio The Tiger Lillies performs live eleven songs created especially for the production and takes part in the action as contemporary rhapsodes from the world of Dionysus.

In the international cast, Leonid Yovchev plays Dionysus, Michail Tabakakis portrays Pentheus, Loukia Michalopoulou plays Agave, Alexandros Mylonas portrays Cadmus, and Samuel Finzi plays Tiresias. The cast also includes Ivan Yurukov, Martin Dimitrov and Ivan Nikolov, alongside a mixed chorus of Bulgarian and Greek actresses: Alexandra Svilenova, Kremena Slavcheva, Nadya Keranova, Alexandra Gaidatzi, Angeliki Kintoni, Danai Stamatopoulou, Eleni Thymiopoulou, Efthymia Daniilidou, Zoe Efthymiou, Xenia Grammatikou, Nefeli Antiopoulou and Polyxeni Spiropoulou.

“Bacchae” is a co-production of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre – Sofia, the Athens Epidaurus Festival, Vegas Cultural Co. – Athens, and the National Theatre of Northern Greece – Thessaloniki.

The performance is in English, with Bulgarian and English surtitles.