ANCIENT Greek drama comes to life at the Abbey Theatre from tonight (Friday) when the Company of Ten puts on the Euripedes play The Bacchae as part of the St Albans Festival.
Adapted by David Greig, it is set in 405 BC when the Greeks, at a time when the human mind was flowering, lived on the rim of chaos – a not dissimilar scene to today with the fastest technological growth ever seen.
In order to try and make themselves at home in a dangerous and unpredictable world, the Greeks invented the Gods and Dionysos, God of Wine and Chaos, half human and half immortal, comes back to Thebes to settle an old family score.
He turns society upside down but his chaos is intoxicating and alluring. He is funny and charming like many political and religious despots.
Opposing him is his cousin Pentheus, King of Thebes, who stands for conformity and order. When they clash, it strikes directly at society.
The Bacchae is being performed at 8pm each night in the Abbey Theatre Studio. It runs until June 19 and tickets can be obtained from the box office on 01727 857861 or through the website www.abbeytheatre.org.uk
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