The Greek Performances of the Bacchae of Euripides in the Recent Years of the 21st Century

The Bacchae is a tragedy of Euripides widely performed in Greece in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In addition, it is a drama of high quality, as its anthropological and religious content has given directors the chance to develop their own point of view οn it. The subject of this tragedy is the arrival of the new religion of Dionysus and of the relevant rituals, which are appropriate for religious syncretism. The presentation of the bacchantes and the meaning they carry is central to the performances, as is the notion of Greek identity and tradition. The emphasis on this tradition or on other traditions or civilizations is also a central concern. The different approaches to the Bacchae reveal the personal sensibilities of the directors, as either the anthropological or the religious element, and even others, attract their attention. Many performances have taken place in Greece in recent years, demonstrating the popularity and the current value of this tragedy. We will analyze the recent performances directed by Sotiris Hatzakis, Helen Mavridou, Nikaiti Kontouri, and Thanos Papakonstantinou. The perspective of our announcement is comparative, highlighting their common points and differentiations.