Bacchae at the National Theatre – exclusive first look at rehearsals

Exclusive: Rehearsal photos has been revealed for the first-ever debut play to take to the National Theatre’s Olivier stage.

Nima Taleghani’s Bacchae was announced as part of a jam-packed inaugural season from director Indhu Rubasingham earlier in the year. You can read more about all of the shows included here.

Telling the story of the birth of Western drama and celebrating the god of theatre, audiences can look forward to spoken word and rhyme, with lyricism, music and movement. The modern retelling of an ancient Greek story will be performed in the amphitheatre of the Olivier.

It’s directed by Rubasingham alongside set and costume designer Robert Jones, choreographer Kate Prince, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, composer DJ Walde, sound designers Ben and Max Ringham, fight director Kate Waters, casting directors Bryony Jarvis-Taylor and Martin Poile, voice and dialect coach Hazel Holder, associate director Hannah Hauer-King, associate set and costume designer Natalie Johnson, associate choreographer Ajani Johnson-Goffe and dramaturgy by Jeanie O’Hare.

The full cast includes Roman Asde (Alexis), Melanie-Joyce Bermudez (Serene), Ebony Clarke (Swing), Natasha Gooden (Tina), Elèna Gyasi (Niloo), Sam Jenkins-Shaw (Clitus), Reuben Johnson ((Bu)Bull), Kate Ivory Jordan (Xena), Tyreke Leslie (Leon), Natasha Magigi (Sunny), James McArdle (Pentheus), Arethajay McEwen (Mertha), Ellie McKay (Nava), Clare Perkins (Vida), Ukweli Roach (Dionysus), Anna Russell-Martin (Kera), Ellie-May Sheridan (Yunann), Fi Silverthorn (Ava), Sharon Small (Agave), Simon Startin (Tireseus), Jessey Stol (Rakhz) and Amanda Wilkin (Demi).

Following its debut, Bacchae will be adapted by Taleghani to tour secondary schools and colleges around the country. The school’s production will be directed by Hauer-King, with casting and creatives to be announced. Bacchae will also be filmed for a future release on National Theatre at Home.

It’ll play in the Olivier Theatre from 13 September to 1 November, with an opening set for 24 September.

Listen to a free exclusive WhatsOnStage Podcast about the season here: