The Bacchae

One man plays require a great deal of effort on the part of the actor and strict concentration from the audience.

Company of Wolves production of The Bacchae features the re-telling of the myth of Dionysus, the son of the God, Zeus, risen from his mother’s ashes and Zeus’s thigh, making him twice born.

It’s a complicated story, which actor Ewan Downie works hard to explain. The set at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow was bright and modern and intriguing from the start.

Four lighting pillars placed in their own metal cages changed colour as Downie switched characters and emotions.

Downie wrote and acted the play, a tough gig, made easier by a soft and light costume from set designer Heather Knudtsen, allowing Downie to explore the physicality of the myth and its characters.

At times the play was a wee bit confusing, especially no doubt to members of the audience listening to the story of Dionysus for the first time.

Lighting by Katharine Williams helped the audience to drink in the characters and their state of mind, starting with Semele, mother of Dionysus, mother of Dionysus and her lover Zeus, expecting a baby. When Semele dies, the child is passed to her sister Agave to be brought up.

His cousin Pentheus, son of Agave is set to become king of Thebes and Agave sends Dionysus away and when he is King, Penrheus captures Dionysus who has returned to Thebes for revenge on his cousin for refusing his Godhood.

Dionysus has sent the women of Thebes to a hilltop to worship him and cons Pentheus to follow them up. With the play brought to an exciting end which sparks tragedy and happiness.

Directed by Ian Spink and with songs from Downie and sound designer Anna Porubcansky, the play allows Downie to throw himself into the story and looks physically worn out at the end.

It’s a triumph for those who know the story well, for those that don’t, it is a little confusing but worth the 45 minutes of your time it takes to tell it.

The Bacchae moves to Stromness Town Hall on 13^th March, Cromarty Hall on 14^th March, The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen on 21^st April, Grangemouth Town Hall on 23^rd April, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling on  24^th April, Eden Court, Inverness on 7^th May, Eastgate Theatre, Peebles on 22^nd May, Corn Exchange on 23^rd May, The Brunton, Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh on 26^th May, Cat Strand, New Galloway on 28^th May and The Merse, Wigtown on 29^th May 2026.

For more information and ticket availability for The Bacchae, please visit: www.companyofwolves.org.

Author Bio:

Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.

Photographs by Louise Mather