Ancient Olympia Festival to conclude with production of The Bacchae

The production of Euripides’ ‘The Bacchae’, directed by Javor Gardev, will conclude the International Festival of Ancient Olympia at the Olympia Theatre on August 26. The performance features special participation from the internationally renowned British band The Tiger Lillies, who provide the music and perform live on stage.

The production is a major co-production involving the Athens-Epidaurus Festival, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre of Bulgaria, and the State Theatre of Northern Greece. It utilizes a mixed cast of Greek and Bulgarian actors, including Samuel Finzi and Loukia Michalopoulou.

Performed with English dialogue and Greek subtitles, the play explores themes of social destabilization and the limits of order, testing the resilience of institutions and civilization through the lens of Dionysian frenzy.