Greek Media Cover Premieres of Javor Gardev’s Play “The Bacchae” at Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus 2026

Balgarianovinite.com Greek media covered the premieres of Javor Gardev’s play The Bacchae at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus on July 10 and 11. The play was among the highlights of this year’s Athens Epidaurus Festival programme, a cultural forum in Greece that annually presents productions of ancient drama, theatre, music and dance.
In an article in the Greek specialized magazine Book Press, theatre critic Nikos Xenios describes the production as an unusual musical interpretation of Greek playwright Euripides’ tragedy. In the critic’s words, the director views Dionysus as a factor destabilizing society and refracts the work through the lens of Balkan nationalisms. Xenios singles out Leonid Yovchev’s performance in the role of Dionysus.
In an article for the Greek literary and theatre publication O Anagnostis, theatre critic Olga Sella describes the production directed by Yavor Gardev as a comprehensive and coherently constructed directorial concept that remains faithful to Euripides’ tragedy while simultaneously linking it to the problems of contemporary societies. According to her, the production impresses with its original staging, the mixed Bulgarian-Greek cast, and the strong performances by Leonid Yovchev and Michail Tabakakis, although in some places, according to the critic, certain directorial choices do not fully achieve the desired effect.
In its review of the production, the publication Days of Art notes that the play raises the question of to what extent society is capable of withstanding the disruption of the established order and how a single event can turn into a collective intellectual, psychological, and political trauma. According to the publication, the play explores the limits of order and the resilience of rules and institutions, while Euripides’ “Dionysian ecstasy” is presented not as an innocent celebration, but as a test of the very idea of civilization.
The Greek cultural publication Elculture describes the play as a bold international co-production between Bulgaria and Greece that brings together Bulgarian and Greek actors on one stage, with the music of the British band “Tiger Lilies” serving as an integral part of the stage action.
The Greek publication In notes that the premiere of The Bacchae at the packed Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus was met with enthusiastic applause. The article highlights the international nature of the production, which brings together Bulgarian and Greek actors on one stage, as well as the participation of the British band “Tiger Lilies.” According to the publication, the performance also attracted a number of prominent figures from Greek cultural life, including actors Vassilis Bisbikis, Nikos Kouris, Lena Kitsopoulou, and Evgenia Samara, as well as singer Despina Vandi.
On July 13, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre’s summer tour in Greece will be presented at the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) National Press Club in Athens. The tour schedule is as follows: July 15 – Vrahon Theatre, Vyronas, Athens; July 17 – Petra Theatre, Athens; July 18 – Veakeio Theatre, Piraeus; July 20 – Siviri Amphitheatre, Halkidiki (Kassandra Festival); July 22 – Gis Theatre, Thessaloniki; July 24 – Katrakio Theatre, Nikaia, Athens; July 26 – Ancient Theatre of Dodona (Dodoni Festival); August 26 – Olympia Theatre, Floka, Ancient Olympia; August 28 – Ancient Theatre of Dion, Pieria; August 30 – Lycabettus Theatre, Athens; September 2 – Ancient Theatre of Philippi, Kavala.  Greek Media Cover Premieres of Javor Gardev’s Play “The Bacchae” at Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-12 15:08:07 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law