Bacchae (Thiyam play)

Last updated
The Bacchae
Original title Ancient Greek: Βάκχαι, romanized: Bakkhai, lit. ' The Bacchae '
Written by Euripides
Based on Ancient Greek: Βάκχαι, romanized: Bakkhai, lit. ' The Bacchae '
Chorus Bacchae, female followers of Dionysus
Characters
Date premieredAugust, 2015
Place premiered New Delhi and again in Imphal, Manipur
Original language Meitei language (Manipuri language) [lower-alpha 1]
Subject Greek mythology
Genre Greek tragedy

The Bacchae, also simply known as Bacchae, is a classical Meitei language play, based on an ancient Greek tragedy of the same name, written by Euripides (480-406 B.C.), one of the three tragedians of classical Athens. Directed by Thawai Thiyam, son of Ratan Thiyam, it is based on the story of king Pentheus of Thebes and Olympian god Dionysus. [1] [2]

Contents

Overview

The play "Bacchae" was showcased in the "Poorvottar Rashtriya Rang Utsav", a 5-day festival of dramas from the North East Indian states, organised by the National School of Drama (NSD) of the Ministry of Culture (India) in August, 2015. [3] [4]

The play was performed by the Chorus Repertory Theatre, in the Asian Theatre Festival 2015, organised by Ningthoujam Tombi Theatre Manipur (NT Theatre), in Maharaja Chandrakirti Auditorium, Imphal, on 26 November 2015. [5] [6] The festival of dramas was organised during the Sangai Festival as a part of it. [7]

Plot

In the play, it shows the legend of king Pentheus of Thebes and the Olympian god Dionysus. God Dionysus is portrayed as a developed country. It results in globalization on a massive scale. On the other hand, king Pentheus is portrayed as a small community. Its chances of survival are unpredictable and always doubtful. [8]

See also

Notes

  1. It is the original language of the version of a literary adaptation.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Bacchae</i> Ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides

The Bacchae is an ancient Greek tragedy, written by the Athenian playwright Euripides during his final years in Macedonia, at the court of Archelaus I of Macedon. It premiered posthumously at the Theatre of Dionysus in 405 BC as part of a tetralogy that also included Iphigeneia at Aulis and Alcmaeon in Corinth, and which Euripides' son or nephew is assumed to have directed. It won first prize in the City Dionysia festival competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentheus</span> Greek mythological king of Thebes

In Greek mythology, Pentheus was a king of Thebes. His father was Echion, the wisest of the Spartoi. His mother was Agave, the daughter of Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, and the goddess Harmonia. His sister was Epeiros and his son was Menoeceus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipur</span> State in northeastern India

Manipur is a state in northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanmar, Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the south. The state covers an area of 22,327 km2 (8,621 sq mi). The official and most widely spoken language is the Meitei language. Native to the Meitei people, it is also used as a lingua franca by smaller communities, who speak a variety of other Tibeto-Burman languages. Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years. This exchange connects the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia to Southeast Asia, East Asia, Siberia, regions in the Arctic, Micronesia and Polynesia enabling migration of people, cultures and religions.

Ratan Thiyam is an Indian playwright and theatre director, and the winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, one of leading figures of the "theatre of roots" movement in Indian theatre, which started in the 1970s. Also known as Thiyam Nemai, Ratan Thiyam is known for writing and staging plays that use ancient Indian theatre traditions and forms in a contemporary context. A former painter, and proficient in direction, design, script and music, Thiyam is often considered one of leading contemporary theatre gurus.

<i>The Bacchae</i> (film) American film

The Bacchae is an independent film adaptation of Euripides' play The Bacchae, produced by Lorenda Starfelt and John Morrissey, and directed by Brad Mays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharat Rang Mahotsav</span>

Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) or the National Theatre Festival, started in 1999, is the annual theatre festival organised by National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi. The festival was started to showcase works of Indian theatre practitioners, and it has grown over the years to attract international performers as well. National School of Drama is India's premier theatre training institute funded by Govt. of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakhangba</span> Primordial god in Meitei mythology

Pakhangba is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a Meitei dragon, in Meitei mythology and religion. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, which originated in paphal, mythical illustrations of the deity in the traditional beliefs of Sanamahism in Manipur. Among the Meiteis, it is believed that the ancestor of one of the clans manifested himself as the Pakhangba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of Manipur</span> Indian filmmaking in Manipur

The Cinema of Manipur is the film industry based in Manipur, India. It includes not only Meitei language movies but all the films made in different languages of the different communities in Manipur. The Manipuri film industry was born when Matamgi Manipur by Debkumar Bose was released on 9 April 1972. From Aribam Syam Sharma's Paokhum Ama, the first colour Manipuri film (1983), M.A Singh's Langlen Thadoi, the first full-length colour Manipuri film (1984), Oken Amakcham's Lammei, the first Manipuri digital film (2002), to Priyakanta Laishram's Oneness (film), the first Manipuri gay-themed film (2023), Manipuri cinema, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, has grown in both its form and culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Manipur</span> Overview of and topical guide to Manipur

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Manipur:

Romi Meitei is an Indian film director and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at several film festivals organised in India and abroad and has directed movies for around two decades. Thoiba Thoibi, Inga Nonglakta, Manithoiba, Natephamda Tero, Chumthang Makhong, Mikithi and Dharmagi Mingda Imagidamak are some of the well-known movies he directed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinglen Thiyam</span> Shumang Leela artist, comedian, lyricist, and director (1950–2020)

Chinglen Thiyam was an actor, comedian, lyricist and director of Shumang Kumhei theatre in Manipur. He had acted in over 100 plays and directed around 20 plays. Thiyam had also acted in many Manipuri films. He was popularly known as Commando Chinglen from the Shumang Leela Thawaina Punshigidamak. Not only in digital films, but he had also acted in Manipuri celluloid movies. He was conferred with the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Award in 2020 for his profound contribution in Shumang Leela. Wari Loidri, Khomlang Laman, Thawaina Punshigidamak, Sanagi Nga, Keishamthong Thoibi were some of the famous plays where he acted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi</span> Old Meitei legend

The ancient legend of Kadeng Thangjahanba and Tonu Laijinglembi is an epic cycle of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore from Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the fateful love of Kadeng Thangjahanba, a skilled blacksmith, for the beautiful Tonu Laijinglembi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marjing Polo Complex</span> Polo Complex in Imphal

The Marjing Polo Complex is a sports complex dedicated to ancient Meitei deity Marjing, Sagol Kangjei and Meitei horse, built in the hilltop of the Heingang Ching, the sacred abode of God Marjing, located in Heingang, Imphal East district, Kangleipak . It houses Marjing Polo Statue, the world's tallest equestrian statue of a polo player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South East Asia Cultural Organisation</span> International cultural organization

The South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) is an international cultural organization that works for the development of the Meitei culture of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). It aims to preserve the unique history, culture, identity, and religion of Manipur. It also advocates to take "extra caution about the issue of preservation of the cultural identity of the Indigenous people in the wake of the present globalization".

Yairipok Thambalnu, originally known as Sanoujam Chanu Thambalnu or simply as Thambalnu, was a Meitei lady native to Yairipok region of Kangleipak. She was a victim of intrigues and was forced to meet a tragic death in drowning in a flooding river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classicism in Meitei culture</span> Art and cultural movement

The cultural heritages of Meitei civilization has classicism in diverse traditions of cinemas, dances, language, literature, music, theatre, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese–Meitei cultural relations</span> Cultural relationship between Japanese and Meitei traditions

Japanese people and Meitei people have a long history of sharing and interacting with each other's art and cultural heritages, including but not limited to cinema, music, mythology, language, literature and theatre.

Hojang Taret is a classical Meitei language play based on Euripides's ancient Greek tragedy The Phoenician Women. It is directed by Oasis Sougaijam and produced by The Umbilical Theatre in Imphal, Kangleipak . It depicts the moral ambiguities of conflict between brothers resulting to the ruination of the ancient city of Thebes.

Sanaleipak Nachom, also known as Sanaleipak Nachom Artistes' Association or simply Sanaleibak Nachom, is a Meitei cultural association of artists of Shumang Kumhei art form of Kangleipak.

References

  1. "Discover the richness of northeast at NSD". Hindustan Times. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  2. williamgurumayum (2015-08-24). "Bacchae to open NE Play Festival". News from Manipur - Imphal Times. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  3. "Discover the richness of northeast at NSD". Hindustan Times. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  4. williamgurumayum (2015-08-24). "Bacchae to open NE Play Festival". News from Manipur - Imphal Times. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  5. "Asian Theatre Festival 2015 at MCA Imphal 20150925" . Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  6. "Asian theatre fest concludes : 29th nov15" . Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  7. "First Asian Theatre Festival in Sangai Festival : 13th sep15" . Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  8. "Discover the richness of northeast at NSD". Hindustan Times. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2023-08-24.