A Letter from the Director - THE BACCHAE

Dear Patrons,

My name is Bea Lemaster, and I have had the honor of Directing The Bacchae with Modern Archaic Theatre Company, with whom I serve as Company Manager and Resident Director. This classic script by Euripides has been a labor of love for the team, and I speak for everyone when I say we are so excited to call this our 2026-27 season opener. As my second show with the company, I have had the honor of diving headfirst into this script, collaborating with the incredible cast, and creating a show that takes risks, modernizes a classic, and most importantly, preserves this incredible story. 

In our production, we have set our story in a futuristic environment: 25 years after a nuclear event that devastated society as we know it. After nuclear winter has dissipated, all that remains is a society of survivors whose attempt at rebuilding mirrors early civilization, taking inspiration from Ancient Greek life. But, will history repeat itself when a man claiming to be the god Dionysus invades the land now called Thebes? He convinces the women of the land to leave their positions in society, running to the mountains to dance the dance of god and partake in his mysterious rituals. This angers the young king Pentheus, ruler of Thebes, whose slow descent into madness forebodes the group of survivors' imminent downfall. Emphasizing themes of power struggles, systemic inequities, and brute force, The Bacchae creates an eerie experience for audiences to immerse themselves in this old tale made new. 

Written between 407 and 406 BCE, The Bacchae won first prize at the infamous Festival Dionysia in 405 and still remains one of the most famous Greek works to this day, yet often takes a backseat to other notable Greek works. This is my second time directing the show, and I am particularly drawn to the morally gray stance that contemporary productions take towards the characters, pulling threads that were once woven by Euripides himself to create a tapestry that still resonates with modern audiences, highlighting the vastly different but intrinsically similar cultural contexts. I would love to see this play stake its claim as a Greek force to be reckoned with, and rise in the ranks to surpass the notoriety that other Greek works deservedly enjoy. 

Come dance the dance of god, take up the holy thyrsus, run to the mountain with the bacchic women of Thebes, and most importantly, I hope you enjoy Modern Archaic Theatre Company's production of: THE BACCHAE. 

Sincerely, 

Bea Lemaster

Resident Director

Modern Archaic Theatre Company

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