Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 19 hours ago
A performance and discussion of a new musical adaptation of Euripides' The Bacchae, hosted by Joel Christensen (Brandeis University) with special guest Emma Cole (University of Bristol).
Note: The performance includes nudity and stylized gore.
This production was supported by an Ancient Worlds, Modern Communities grant from the Society of Classical Studies.
Reading Greek Tragedy Online is presented by the Center for Hellenic Studies (https://chs.harvard.edu/), the Kosmos Society (https://kosmossociety.chs.harvard.edu/), and Out of Chaos Theatre (out-of-chaos.co.uk/). For more information about outreach opportunities through the Reading Greek Tragedy Online project, contact outofchaosplays@gmail.com. To support Out of Chaos Theatre, visit fundrazr.com/b1oWw3?ref=ab_6ACAcc.
Watch the HD version of the Bacchae video at youtu.be/8Q1u1VLcrSA.
Credits:
Lyrics by J. Landon Marcus
Music by Johanna Warren and J. Landon
Director of Photography - Ren Faulkner
Director - Johanna Warren
Dionysus Director - Madeleine Hamer
Dionysus filmed on location at Epiphany Sanctuary
Music recorded by J Landon Marcus and Johanna Warren
Mixed by Eric Crespo
Dionysus - J Landon Marcus
Agave - Johanna Warren
Pentheus - Johanna Warren / Sung by J Landon Marcus
Maenads - Aimée Cornwell, Gracel Delos Santos, Imogen Alice Grace, Jane Lu, Avery Rabbitt, Claire Rhiannon
Bacchae - Helen Campbell, Sophie Ferrier, Hannah Padgett
Guards - Owen Harris, Dan Lee
Props and masks handmade by: Kate Cornish
Costumes by Kate Cornish, Hannah Padgett, Johanna Warren and the Maenads
Makeup by Johanna Warren
Cadmus' hands - Richey Beckett
Production Assistant - Ryan James
Title Screen Art by Scarlett Cussel (scarlettcussell.com)
"Enemy of Obscenity" Projections - Mohammad Fakhori
More information about the cast and featured speakers can be found at
https://chs.harvard.edu/programs/reading-greek-tragedy-online/#bios
Further listening and modern performances to explore:
1) Euripides' Bacchae - Composed by Petros Tabouris - Performed with ancient Greek musical instruments (2002): open.spotify.com/album/5WYR0Eah7pN2GbrtmoUnt4?si=BYe22_2LSJCarfEneJpl-g&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1
2) Richard Schechner's "Dionysus in '69" -- a modern re-staging of the play on a deconstructed stage: hdl.handle.net/2333.1/mcvdncsq
A performance and discussion of a new musical adaptation of Euripides' The Bacchae, hosted by Joel Christensen (Brandeis University) with special guest Emma Cole (University of Bristol).
Note: The performance includes nudity and stylized gore.
This production was supported by an Ancient Worlds, Modern Communities grant from the Society of Classical Studies.
Reading Greek Tragedy Online is presented by the Center for Hellenic Studies (https://chs.harvard.edu/), the Kosmos Society (https://kosmossociety.chs.harvard.edu/), and Out of Chaos Theatre (out-of-chaos.co.uk/). For more information about outreach opportunities through the Reading Greek Tragedy Online project, contact outofchaosplays@gmail.com. To support Out of Chaos Theatre, visit fundrazr.com/b1oWw3?ref=ab_6ACAcc.
Watch the HD version of the Bacchae video at youtu.be/8Q1u1VLcrSA.
Credits:
Lyrics by J. Landon Marcus
Music by Johanna Warren and J. Landon
Director of Photography - Ren Faulkner
Director - Johanna Warren
Dionysus Director - Madeleine Hamer
Dionysus filmed on location at Epiphany Sanctuary
Music recorded by J Landon Marcus and Johanna Warren
Mixed by Eric Crespo
Dionysus - J Landon Marcus
Agave - Johanna Warren
Pentheus - Johanna Warren / Sung by J Landon Marcus
Maenads - Aimée Cornwell, Gracel Delos Santos, Imogen Alice Grace, Jane Lu, Avery Rabbitt, Claire Rhiannon
Bacchae - Helen Campbell, Sophie Ferrier, Hannah Padgett
Guards - Owen Harris, Dan Lee
Props and masks handmade by: Kate Cornish
Costumes by Kate Cornish, Hannah Padgett, Johanna Warren and the Maenads
Makeup by Johanna Warren
Cadmus' hands - Richey Beckett
Production Assistant - Ryan James
Title Screen Art by Scarlett Cussel (scarlettcussell.com)
"Enemy of Obscenity" Projections - Mohammad Fakhori
More information about the cast and featured speakers can be found at
https://chs.harvard.edu/programs/reading-greek-tragedy-online/#bios
Further listening and modern performances to explore:
1) Euripides' Bacchae - Composed by Petros Tabouris - Performed with ancient Greek musical instruments (2002): open.spotify.com/album/5WYR0Eah7pN2GbrtmoUnt4?si=BYe22_2LSJCarfEneJpl-g&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1
2) Richard Schechner's "Dionysus in '69" -- a modern re-staging of the play on a deconstructed stage: hdl.handle.net/2333.1/mcvdncsq
