The Bacchae
A god who doesn't fit in.
A woman barely holding on.
A king who refuses to dance.
What happens when they all let go?
The Bacchae will be touring Scotland in 2026. Stay tuned.
An invocation. A celebration. A sacrifice.
An outcast god. A powerless king. A mother who kills her only son.
Glasgow's acclaimed Company of Wolves present an earth-shattering solo retelling of the myth of Dionysos: an epic of rejection, vengeance and rebirth told through story, dance and ancient song.
Written and performed by Ewan Downie, The Bacchae blurs the lines between binaries: human and animal, male and female, victim and perpetrator, and takes us on a transformative journey from repression and denial to renewal and release. A hymn of rebirth for our shattered selves.
The playtext for The Bacchae is on sale through Playwright's Studio Scotland, here.
The Bacchae premiered at The Barn in Aberdeenshire and The Byre Theatre in St Andrews in Autumn 2023, and returned for a full run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025. Keep your eyes open for a Scotland wide tour in 2026 -- details coming soon!
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Reviews
“ Courageous. Thrilling. Timeless.
“ Mesmerising
“ An incredible performance
“ Luminous
Credits
Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland