Company of Wolves will take its acclaimed production of The Bacchae on a UK tour in spring 2027, bringing Ewan Downie’s bold reimagining of Euripides’ ancient tragedy to audiences across the country.
Written and performed by Downie, The Bacchae combines storytelling, movement and music to explore one of Greek theatre’s most enduring and unsettling tales. The production follows Dionysos, the god of theatre, wine and ecstasy, as he returns to Thebes to seek revenge on those who deny his divinity.
In a virtuosic solo performance, Downie plays five characters from Greek mythology, including Dionysos, Zeus, Semele, Agave and Pentheus, King of Thebes.
The production examines themes of identity, belonging, rejection and transformation, bringing fresh urgency to a story that remains strikingly relevant for contemporary audiences.
Following appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe and a successful tour of Scotland, The Bacchae will now visit venues across England, beginning at Omnibus Theatre in London.
The production is the final work directed by the late Ian Spink, the acclaimed choreographer and co-founder of Second Stride. It is also directed by Heather Knudtsen and was developed in collaboration with the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews and Ancient Greek specialist Dr Michael Carroll.
The creative team includes set and costume designer Alisa Kalyanova, sound designer and composer Anna Porubcansky, and lighting designer Katharine Williams.
Ewan Downie said: “I first fell in love with this story 30 years ago, so making this show has been a long time coming. The story of a god who is so upset when he’s rejected that he takes terrifying and bloody revenge, has always rung true.”
He added: “After reaching a huge range of audiences, from local to international, at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025, and then touring to 13 venues Scotland-wide over Spring 2026, I’m delighted to now have the opportunity to take this show to people all across England.”
Downie also said: “Since we first made the show in 2023 it has only become more relevant, more urgent: in a time of relentless division, The Bacchae looks at what pushing others away costs, and what it might take for us to be whole again.”
The tour will visit London, Coventry, Lichfield, Nottingham, Bedford, Norwich, Colchester, Birmingham and Leeds, with an additional venue to be announced.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
