Difference between revisions of "The Bacchae"

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''The Bacchae'' (Ancient Greek: Βάκχαι, Bakchai; also known as The Bacchantes) is an ancient Greek tragedy by the Athenian playwright Euripides, during his final years in Macedonia, at the court of Archelaus I of Macedon. It premièred posthumously at the Theatre of Dionysus in 405 BC as part of a tetralogy that also included ''[[Iphigenia in Aulis|Iphigeneia at Aulis]]'' and ''[[Alcmaeon in Corinth]]'', and which Euripides's son or nephew probably directed. It won first prize in the City Dionysia festival competition.
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''[[The Bacchae]]'' (Ancient Greek: Βάκχαι, Bakchai) is tragedy by the Athenian playwright Euripides.
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Also known as ''[[The Bacchantes]]'' in English.
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== The original text ==
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Written during his final years in Macedonia, while at the court of Archelaus I of Macedon, it premièred posthumously at the Theatre of Dionysus in 405 BC as part of a tetralogy that also included ''[[Iphigenia in Aulis|Iphigeneia at Aulis]]'' and ''[[Alcmaeon in Corinth]]'', and which Euripides's son or nephew probably directed. It won first prize in the City Dionysia festival competition.
  
 
The tragedy is based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother Agauë, and their punishment by the god Dionysus (who is Pentheus's cousin) because he refuses to worship him. It shows the city caught up in hysterical orgies in honour of Dionysus, and the god himself not only speaks the prologue, but plays an important role in the action.
 
The tragedy is based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother Agauë, and their punishment by the god Dionysus (who is Pentheus's cousin) because he refuses to worship him. It shows the city caught up in hysterical orgies in honour of Dionysus, and the god himself not only speaks the prologue, but plays an important role in the action.
  
Directed by [[John Burch]] with the cast including [[John Burch]], [[Karin Jerg]], [[Christopher Goetsch|Chris Goetsch]], [[Carol-Ann Kelleher]], [[Julie Coghlan]], [[Bruce Young]] and [[Martin le Maitre]] amongst others, [[Rhodes University Drama Department]], 198*.
 
  
Translated into Afrikaans by [[Herman Pretorius]] as ''Die Bacchae''. Presented by the [[Stellenbosch University Drama Department]]
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==Translations and adaptations==
as its entry for Student Drama at the [[National Arts Festival]] in 1988.
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Translated into English by **
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Translated from the original Greek into [[Dutch]] by [[Balthazar Verhagen]] as ''[[De Bacchanten]]''. Published by S.L. van Looij, 1924
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Translated into [[Afrikaans]] by [[Herman Pretorius]] as ''[[Die Bacchae]]''. Presented by the [[Stellenbosch University Drama Department]] as its entry for Student Drama at the [[National Arts Festival]] in 1988.
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See also [[Wole Soyinka]]’s play ''[[The Bacchae of Euripides]]''; ''[[Bacchus in die Boland]]'' by [[Bartho Smit]]; ''[[Ritual 2378]]'' by [[Ian Ferguson]] ;  [[Malcolm Purkey]]'s adaptation,
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1971: Performed by the [[Serpent Players]] directed by [[John Kani]] on Monday 5 July 1971 starring Kani, [[Winston Ntshona]], [[Daniso Mankazana]], [[Mangaliso Grootboom]], [[George Luse]], [[Nomhle Nkonyeni]], [[Vuyelwa Cola]], [[Grace Mnci]], [[Joyce Faku]] ([[TECON]]).
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1981: Directed by [[John Burch]] for the [[Rhodes University Drama Department]], March 1981, with the cast including [[John Burch]], [[Karin Jerg]], [[Christopher Goetsch|Chris Goetsch]], [[Carol-Ann Kelleher]], [[Julie Coghlan]], [[Bruce Young]] and [[Martin le Maitre]] amongst others.
  
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[[Jeremy Crutchley]] as Pentheus in Euripides's ''The Bacchae'' for the [[Junction Avenue Theatre Company]].
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Aug 1983 - An adaptation directed by [[Malcolm Purkey]] with the cast:  [[Jeremy Crutchley]], [[Fats Dibeco]], [[Kurt Egelhof]], [[Popi Havakis]], [[Carol Kaplan]], [[Siphiwe Khumalo]], [[Jeni-Lyn McLaren]], [[Arthur Molepo]],
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[[Gladys Mothlale]], [[Jonathan Paton]], [[Sarah Roberts]], [[Caryn Solomon]],  [[Minky Schlesinger]] at the [[Market Theatre]].
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2002: Kirstenbosch Gardens Dionysos Festival, ''[[The Bacchae]]'' 2002, directed by [[Roy Sergeant]] starring [[Matthew Wild]] as Dionysos, [[Tauriq Jenkins]], [[Willem Breedt]]. [[Andrew Michau]] wrote the music.
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[[The Tyrant]] 2003, [[The Birds]] 2004
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S
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bacchae
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Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bacchae].
  
 
''World Drama'' by Allardyce Nicoll. Harrap, 1949.
 
''World Drama'' by Allardyce Nicoll. Harrap, 1949.
  
Photographs and contact sheets for photographs of the cast for The Bacchae by Euripides, [[NELM]]
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[[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
  
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Photographs and contact sheets for photographs of the cast for ''The Bacchae'' by Euripides, [[NELM]]
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 B|B]] in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
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== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 B|B]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 B|B]] in Plays II Foreign Plays
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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 +
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 17:10, 21 April 2024

The Bacchae (Ancient Greek: Βάκχαι, Bakchai) is tragedy by the Athenian playwright Euripides.

Also known as The Bacchantes in English.

The original text

Written during his final years in Macedonia, while at the court of Archelaus I of Macedon, it premièred posthumously at the Theatre of Dionysus in 405 BC as part of a tetralogy that also included Iphigeneia at Aulis and Alcmaeon in Corinth, and which Euripides's son or nephew probably directed. It won first prize in the City Dionysia festival competition.

The tragedy is based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother Agauë, and their punishment by the god Dionysus (who is Pentheus's cousin) because he refuses to worship him. It shows the city caught up in hysterical orgies in honour of Dionysus, and the god himself not only speaks the prologue, but plays an important role in the action.


Translations and adaptations

Translated into English by **

Translated from the original Greek into Dutch by Balthazar Verhagen as De Bacchanten. Published by S.L. van Looij, 1924

Translated into Afrikaans by Herman Pretorius as Die Bacchae. Presented by the Stellenbosch University Drama Department as its entry for Student Drama at the National Arts Festival in 1988.

See also Wole Soyinka’s play The Bacchae of Euripides; Bacchus in die Boland by Bartho Smit; Ritual 2378 by Ian Ferguson ; Malcolm Purkey's adaptation,

Performance history in South Africa

1971: Performed by the Serpent Players directed by John Kani on Monday 5 July 1971 starring Kani, Winston Ntshona, Daniso Mankazana, Mangaliso Grootboom, George Luse, Nomhle Nkonyeni, Vuyelwa Cola, Grace Mnci, Joyce Faku (TECON).

1981: Directed by John Burch for the Rhodes University Drama Department, March 1981, with the cast including John Burch, Karin Jerg, Chris Goetsch, Carol-Ann Kelleher, Julie Coghlan, Bruce Young and Martin le Maitre amongst others.

Jeremy Crutchley as Pentheus in Euripides's The Bacchae for the Junction Avenue Theatre Company.

Aug 1983 - An adaptation directed by Malcolm Purkey with the cast: Jeremy Crutchley, Fats Dibeco, Kurt Egelhof, Popi Havakis, Carol Kaplan, Siphiwe Khumalo, Jeni-Lyn McLaren, Arthur Molepo, Gladys Mothlale, Jonathan Paton, Sarah Roberts, Caryn Solomon, Minky Schlesinger at the Market Theatre.

2002: Kirstenbosch Gardens Dionysos Festival, The Bacchae 2002, directed by Roy Sergeant starring Matthew Wild as Dionysos, Tauriq Jenkins, Willem Breedt. Andrew Michau wrote the music.

The Tyrant 2003, The Birds 2004 S

Sources

Wikipedia [1].

World Drama by Allardyce Nicoll. Harrap, 1949.

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Photographs and contact sheets for photographs of the cast for The Bacchae by Euripides, NELM

Return to

Return to B in Plays II Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page