By: Third Space Theatre
This site specific outdoor retelling of the Bakkhai Greek myth is an ambitious and spectacular piece delivered with passion by its young and talented performers.
The story of Bakkhai is one of revenge; the revenge that the Greek God Dionysus takes on king Pentheus for not believing in him. Like in many Greek myths, this tale ends in the king’s bloody death at the hands of a relative. This re-imagining of the story, by Third Place Theatre, sees us placed in the near future, with wars over water raging and climate disaster bringing upon the end of the world.
The outdoor performance begins at the basketball courts of the Crew Club youth and family centre in Whitehawk, Brighton. The space represents the position of the last spring of water on earth. Outside of the space, looking in, and ready to take control at any moment are the suited corporates (menacingly played by members of Brighton People’s Theatre), Pentheus being their leader. They are looking to control the angry populace and any resources that remain.
Inside the territory are three contrasting groups of youths, who approach the imminent end of the world in markedly different ways. Followers of Athena, all dressed in black, some faces covered like rioters, want to resist the end and fight. Followers of Apollo, dressed in greys, are accepting that the end times are upon us. While followers of Dionysus, kitted out in beige with startling eye make up, are in denial and believe there is still time to change things; they revel and party.
Observing all the action and acting as guides for the audience are the “crows”. While the world is doomed and the groups are in fear for their lives the “crows” bring humour and levity to the piece, always being a little mischievous.
The company of fifty plus actors all throw themselves into the story with great commitment. Stand out actors include Vito Taskin as Jay, who plays his role as the leader of the Athenans with great brooding and intensity. Marija Kirstukaite as Athena also has a very commanding presence and Sonny Atwood as Tommy (viewing the piece as an observer from 2023 and delivering verbatim testimony about the hopes and fears of the young cast) delivers his lines with great confidence and has well timed comedy skill. All the “crows” delight, especially when they move and talk as a group.
The whole cast of young actors shine in this performance. It is well choreographed and excellently staged managed by John Everett. There are a dizzying amount of moving parts in this play which are controlled with excellent precision and poise. The audience are moved around the basketball court and laterly up to a field for the denouement with great care.
The soundscapes, designed by David Goodman are suitably futuristic and wonderfully industrial like “Mad Max”, the band “Nine inch Nails” or a film by Alex Cox. Actors with remote head mics add to the grandeur of the piece as their voices resonate and boom around the area. Up at the field young members of the cast run up a hill and wave large red flags and set off flares. Others dance below in a frenzy which leads to the demise of Pentheus by the Bacchant, It is a wild display enthrallingly performed.
While the story itself gets a little lost, the spectacle of the piece is truly impressive as are the young cast members who really give it their all .
Reviewed at 3pm On 13th May
