In The Bacchae Dionysus, the arguably androgynous deity of wine, ecstasy and fertility, sets out on a journey to revenge his mother Semele. Dionysus' divine power turns a seemingly harmless worship of the god into a cannibalistic menace, resulting in Thebes' king being ripped to pieces by his own mother. The underlying gendered power struggle between rationality and ecstasy gives the play its edge even in the 21st century. In Aristophanes' comedy Ecclesiazusae, or The Assembly-Women, the women of Athens succeed in their cunning plan to take over government from the men. Their proto-Communist state aims to establish equality amongst all citizens, rich and poor, women and men. Whilst lighthearted in tone, the political flavour of the play lends itself to a contemporary interpretation with bite.| 14 Jan 11 to 15 Jan 11 | Mumford Theatre Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Performance Details => Venue archive |
