The Bacchae, a radical reimagining of Euripides’ ancient tragedy, will tour Scotland in Spring 2026, presented by Glasgow’s acclaimed Company of Wolves.
Written and performed by Ewan Downie, The Bacchae is a solo performance directed by the late Ian Spink. It features original songs by Downie and Anna Porubcansky, and a striking design by Alisa Kalyanova, Anna Porubcansky (sound), and Katharine Williams (lighting).
Set against a backdrop of neon lights and supermarket cages, The Bacchae explores Dionysus as a mind at war with itself. The production weaves storytelling, dance, and ancient song to embody five mythological characters: Dionysus, Zeus, Semele, Agave, and Pentheus.
Fresh from a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, The Bacchae begins its tour in March 2026 at the newly reopened Studio at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre. It will then visit venues across Scotland including Capital Theatres Studio in Edinburgh, Stromness Town Hall and Cromarty Hall in Orkney, Lemon Tree in Aberdeen, Macrobert in Stirling, Eastgate in Peebles, Corn Exchange in Melrose, The Merse in Wigton, and CatStrand in New Galloway. Additional dates will be announced in the new year.
The Bacchae blurs binaries—human and animal, male and female, victim and perpetrator—offering a hymn of rebirth for our shattered selves.
Anna Porubcansky and Ewan Downie, Co-Artistic Directors of Company of Wolves, said:
“We’re thrilled to bring this phenomenal production back to the stage next year, and honoured to be part of the Citizens Theatre’s opening year programme alongside such a fabulous lineup of artists. After the amazing responses from audiences during our Fringe run, it was so clear to us that this show needs to be seen far and wide. This tour is what we’re all about — bringing exceptional work to audiences and communities across the length and breadth of Scotland. We can’t wait to share it with you.”
The production was developed in collaboration with the School of Classics at the University of St Andrews and is funded by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
The Bacchae is the final work directed by Ian Spink, whose legacy includes pioneering contributions to dance and theatre through his company Second Stride and collaborations with Caryl Churchill.
Ewan Downie said:
“Ian was an extraordinary artist and an internationally renowned pioneer who shaped the dance world in the 80s and 90s with his company Second Stride, as well as expanding the possibilities of theatre through his collaborations with Caryl Churchill. Ian was a wonderful listener, a valued collaborator and a good friend. He became ill just before we began to make The Bacchae, but was determined to keep working on the show. He got to see the final draft of the piece, but by the time we were in production was too ill to see the premiere. He died a week or so after the first performance. He is deeply missed.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
