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Drama

The Bacchae

Euripides

A report on the biggest party of all time taking place somewhere nearby.

The Estates Theatre
English surtitles

Choose date

  • April
  • January 2025
    April 2024

    Thursday 4. 4.
    19:00

    Tickets available

    English surtitles

    Monday 8. 4.
    19:00

    Tickets available

    English surtitles

    Tuesday 9. 4.
    19:00

    Tickets available

    English surtitles
    January 2025

    Wednesday 8. 1.
    19:00

    Currently subscription sale only More about subscription

    English surtitles

    Basic information

    Venue

    The Estates Theatre

    Approximate running time

    1 hour 50 minutes, no intermission

    Language

    In Czech, surtitles in English

    Premiere

    February 16, 2023

    A report on the biggest party of all time taking place somewhere nearby.

    Cast

    • 2023-2024
    • 2024-2025

    Creatives

    Stage director
    Jan Frič
    Dramaturgy
    Nina Jacques
    Costume design
    Marek Cpin
    Sound design
    Pavel Hořák
    Photos for the production
    Patrik Borecký

    About

    The young god Dionysus arrives in Thebes so as to initiate the city inhabitants into his cult. His passionate female followers, the Bacchae, revel in a strange ritual, during which they indulge in orgies and fall into a madness-like state. Their behaviour infuriates King Pentheus of Thebes, who confronts the stranger. Unfortunately, he has no inkling who his rival is, ignoring the advice of those around him to show humility. The arrival of a new god may not necessarily mean salvation, yet it certainly does herald the accession of a new order. Who is right? Is it Pentheus, who refuses to understand the impending change and instead strives to firmly grasp the world, or is it Dionysus the “rubble rouser”? Perhaps equilibrium can never hold sway without chaos …

    Our production of The Bacchae by Euripides (c. 480 – c. 405 BC) foregrounds the themes of humility, revenge, mass hysteria, as well as travesty, focusing on the conflict arising in individuals and entire communities as a result of repudiation of religion. And it raises timeless questions. Although deeming ourselves to be atheists, at the bottom of our hearts we, willy-nilly, harbour faith, with transcendence being still present today, as a dimension of life that is impossible to define but must be lived. At the present time, when we witness massive dissemination of all kinds of information, when “incontrovertible truths” flood the virtual space, when rational arguments yield ground to unfounded theories and fallacies, our civilisation seems to be heading to unavoidable perdition. People devour each other, strike one another with clubs, bite each other’s heads, get lost in fury and indulge in unstoppable rampage …

    The production of Euripides' The Bacchae, to be staged at the Estates Theatre by Jan Frič, will undoubtedly present a singular interpretation of the Antique drama. We will present the play in a new Czech translation by Matyáš Havrda and Petr Borkovec, directly commissioned by the National Theatre in Prague. 

    WARNING: We use smoke machine and tobacco products during the performance.
    Suitable for audience from 15 years. 

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    Goods detail

    Programme The Bacchae

    A booklet for the production of The Bacchae

    80 Kč

    Only 3 items in stock

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    Practical information

    Where to buy tickets

    The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in March-August 2024.


    When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.

    What to wear?

    By their appearance, attire and behaviour, the audience is obliged to adhere to the accustomed practice expected from them when attending a theatre performance.

    Parking at the Estates Theatre

    Unfortunately, there is no parking near The Estates Theater. You can use the guarded parking lot in the Kotva shopping center (Revoluční 1/655, Prague 1) and Paladium (Na Poříčí 1079 / 3a, Prague 1).

    Buffets at the Estates Theater

    No waiting. For your benefit, please pre-order your food and beverages at the bar to minimize waiting in the queue!

    Menu (PDF, 60 kB)