National Theatre’s Bacchae heads into schools – in photos

The National Theatre has released production images for its nationwide schools tour of Bacchae, which is visiting secondary schools and colleges across the UK over eight weeks.

Having begun at schools in Kent and Norwich, the production will visit more than 60 schools and colleges, reaching an estimated 7,000 young people. The tour is being delivered in partnership with local theatres, with public performances also scheduled at the Lowry in Salford on 20 and 21 November.

Writer Nima Taleghani has adapted the National Theatre’s 2025 main stage production for schools, working with director Hannah Hauer-King. The original production formed part of Indhu Rubasingham’s inaugural season at the National Theatre. Taleghani’s version of Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy explores its themes through rhythm, movement and music.

The tour has been visiting, and continues to visit, schools in partnership with the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury (28 September to 2 October), Norwich Theatre (5 to 9 October), Birmingham Hippodrome (12 to 14 October), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (15 to 16 and 19 to 21 October), Belgrade Theatre in Coventry (22 and 23 October), Newcastle Theatre Royal (2 to 6 November), Nottingham Theatre Royal (9 to 11 November), Leicester Curve (12 and 13 November), the Lowry in Salford (16 to 21 November) and Sheffield Theatres (23 to 27 November).

Antony Little, principal of Hewett Academy in Norwich, said: “To have the National Theatre performing on the opening day of our refurbished theatre was a dream come true for the students, and the school. As a school we place a high value on the arts and the right of our students to engage in live, high-quality cultural experiences. The feedback from the students after the performance was uniformly positive. They were immersed in the performance and have seen a performance that they won’t forget. The students were inspired and entertained in equal measure.”

Taleghani said: “When I first started writing Bacchae, I wanted to make something that me and my friends from school would have enjoyed then and would enjoy now. Something that we would find challenging and tough and tricky then and that we would find challenging now, but in a totally different way. I never felt theatre needed to differentiate so heavily between work for young people and adults, low brow and high brow, accessible and elite. I always wanted to make something for community, that reflected reality, something grassroots and authentic: Bacchae Schools Tour is the play finally coming home.”

Hauer-King said: “Bacchae is a piece that encourages audiences to be suspicious of polarities, to embrace those that may appear different to us, and to question those who impose power. Nima Taleghani’s brilliant adaptation shines a contemporary light on these themes, giving particular focus to the desire of everyone, even a God, to feel like they belong. It feels like the perfect show to take into schools – not only speaking to issues that impact young people today, but also through a classic text that may otherwise seem inaccessible or ‘not for them’. I can’t wait to see it reach an audience that otherwise may not have access to the National Theatre, and that will hopefully encourage young people to believe that they have a future watching or making theatre, should they want it.”

Alongside the performances, students take part in interactive workshops exploring stage design and theatre-making. Alumni of the National Theatre’s Introduction to Stage Management and Young Technicians initiatives will also undertake placements supporting the tour, applying technical skills developed through the programmes.

The cast comprises Senam Akpokavi, Jessica Alade, Ross Foley, Daniel Forbes, Aminita Francis, Emma Manton, Lily Olufemi-Bywaters, Daniel Regan, Premi Tamang and Benjamin Wilson.

The creative team includes set and costume designer Natalie Johnson, lighting designer Bethany Gupwell, sound designer and composer Annie May Fletcher, movement director Kendra Horsburgh, dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare, associate director Callum Berridge and fight director Claire Llewellyn for RC Annie Ltd. Casting is by Martin Poile.