An actor from Eccles is starring in a leading role of a queer retelling of a 2,500 year old Ancient Greek play with the National Youth Theatre (NYT).
Actor and musician, Jack D’Arcy, is set to star as greek god, Dioynsus, in the reimagining of Euripdes’ classic play, The Bakkhai.
Launched to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Youth Theatre REP, the production is one of three performances scheduled to celebrate the success of more than 150 performers who have benefitted from £1.3m worth of industry learning.
Performed from 2-6 May at NYT Workshop Theatre, the play is set to bring the ancient text into the 21st century. Mr D’Arcy explained: “It’s a whole gig/theatre experience and it’s really fun to play.
“I’ve always wanted to play a greek god, Dionysus is a really interesting character, because when people think of the god of wine and revelry, you have an image of a drunken figure. But in the original and this version, he’s quite a stoic figure.”
The Bakkhai is a greek tragedy that follows the god Dionysus exact revenge on those who do not believe him to be the son of Zeus.
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Growing up in Eccles, D’Arcy became involved in student drama societies whilst studying history at university in London.
Post-graduation, the Salfordian auditioned to join the NYT, and moved down to London permanently for theatrical opportunities.
Brought to life thanks to Director, Maisie Newman, recipient of the 2022 Bryan Forbes Directors Bursary, The Bakkhai has been adapted to fit the retelling. Mr D’Arcy continued: “Our Director has taken an adaptation of the play by Canadian poet, Anne Carter, and adapted it herself.
“It’s changed quite a lot of it’s almost unrecognisable. It focusses a lot more on the queer aspects of the text and it brings out the musical elements.”
The cult of Dionysus, a group of worshippers, was originally popular with marginalised societal groups such as women and slaves, hence the NYT’s queer reimagining. He continued: “It’s really about liberation. I think one way that the play differs is it works with gender fluidity and non-conformity.
“Some of the original text, when we were looking over it, felt quite transphobic and ‘turfy’. This version is more about the fact that the king is not accepted.
“In the original text, the King rejects everything that Dionysus stands for. In our version, Dionysus comes from a point of liberation and openness, and he opens up the King, who isn’t accepted as a queer figure in his society, from the traditional ‘masc’ figure that the city of Thebes wants.
“In our version, Thebes rejects feminity, so Dionysus and The Bakkhai come from a place of tolerance and liberation. It’s about opening people to who they are. It’s taken what was quite an uncomfortable aspect, and made it more about gentleness and liberation.
In 2012 Paul Roseby, Artistic Director and CEO of National Youth Theatre (NYT), launched a new REP company that would provide intensive real-world experience each year to a group of young performers and creatives.
Taking inspiration from the old repertory company model, the NYT REP has sought to bring its training and learning model sharply into the modern era.
The Bakkhai comes to NYT Workshop Theatre from 2-6 May. Tickets are available on the website.
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