The international theater co-production “The Bacchae”, directed by Javor Gardev, brings Euripides’ ancient tragedy to modern stages through a collaboration between the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Athens-Epidaurus Festival, and the National Theatre of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki, featuring a live musical score by British trio The Tiger Lillies. According to festival schedules and theater announcements, the production held its world premiere on July 10 and 11, 2026, at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, followed by scheduled performances on September 30, 2026, at the Ancient Theater in Plovdiv and October 9, 2026, at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia.
International Collaboration and Live Music Integration
The staging unites major cultural institutions across southeastern Europe alongside British musicians. According to production notes, The Tiger Lillies perform eleven original songs live during the performances, functioning as a dark musical chorus for the ancient text. The project materialized after director Javor Gardev viewed a production by the Meteor theater laboratory based on the “Iliad”. Rehearsals involved an international cast working under extreme conditions, including 40-degree daytime heat in Greece that forced the company to rehearse late at night. According to cast accounts, a strong storm disrupted early rehearsals, while sound design by Kalin Николов required precise acoustic tuning to blend complex vocal scores with The Tiger Lillies’ live performance.
Leonid Yovchev Takes on the Role of Dionysus
Actor Leonid Yovchev portrays the god Dionysus in what marks his first stage encounter with classical Greek tragedy. According to interviews with the actor, his long-standing interest in Greek mythology was spurred by work with Ani Vaseva and Boyan Manchev, as well as Stephen Fry’s books. Preparing for the role required anthropological research into the cult of Dionysus as the god of transformation, ecstasy, and theater. Yovchev noted that entering the role demanded total immersion in the philosophy of the deity. The production also features Bulgarian actors Ivan Nikolov, Ivan Yurukov, Martin Dimitrov, Aleksandra Svilenova, Nadya Keranova, and Kremena Slavcheva.
Tour Dates and Performance Venues
Following its high-profile premiere at the ancient site in Epidaurus, the production travels to Bulgarian venues in the autumn of 2026. According to ticket releases, Bulgarian audiences can view the staging on September 30, 2026, at the Ancient Theater in Plovdiv and on October 9, 2026, at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. Prior to the Sofia dates, Yovchev is also scheduled to appear in the premiere of “Iliad” on October 9 at the Goethe-Institut, according to theater program announcements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who directed “The Bacchae”? The international co-production is directed by Javor Gardev.
- Where did the world premiere take place? The world premiere was held on July 10 and 11, 2026, at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in Greece.
- Who provides the music for the production? The British musical trio The Tiger Lillies perform eleven original songs live on stage, alongside music by Kalin Nikolov.
- When can audiences see the production in Bulgaria? The performance is scheduled for September 30, 2026, at the Ancient Theater in Plovdiv and October 9, 2026, at Hall 1 of the NDK in Sofia.
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