News A Darkly Comic Triumph of Greek Tragedy: The Bacchae 13.02.2026

In the week before February half-term, audiences in the Bishop Centre were gripped by Godolphin’s darkly comic, yet deeply moving production of Euripides’ Bacchae.

Much has been written about the ‘problem’ of staging the Chorus in Greek Tragedy, with many modern productions resorting to significantly reducing them in size, or even eradicating them altogether. Godolphin’s version instead placed the Chorus of Bacchants at the front and centre, with every Chorus member committing wholeheartedly to this collective titular role. They danced, spoke, sang and moved with impressive unity, completely embodying the complex shifts of emotion as they reacted to each stage of Pentheus’ tragic downfall.

The whole cast did an amazing job of connecting with the lines, listening and reacting truthfully at all times, which kept even the longest of the speeches completely engaging for the audience. Coco, Lower Sixth, captivated the audience throughout with her playful portrayal of the god Dionysus, as he wrought his revenge on the completely misguided tragic protagonist, Pentheus. Maya, Year 11, completely encapsulated Pentheus’ uptight, repressed nature, drawing out the tragic irony through her masterful handling of the role. Mimi, Upper Sixth, gave an impressively mature and emotionally intelligent performance as Agave, a mother who is faced with the terrible realisation that she has unknowingly killed her own son. Every single member of the cast, from the Year 8 and 9 attendants to the Sixth Form messengers, displayed a sophisticated understanding of their roles and worked tirelessly to serve the needs of the production.