Anthropolis 1 : Prolog/Dionysos

Programs

The National Theater Company of Korea presents the latest work by German contemporary playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig. The first installment in a pentalogy exploring the tragedy of the ancient Greek Theban royal house, this production received acclaim from both audiences and critics when originally staged at Germany’s Deutsches SchauSpielHaus, which was named “Theatre of the Year.”
The performance consists of Prolog, which opens the entire five-part series by introducing the origins of the Theban royal house, and the main piece Dionysos, a modern adaptation of Euripides’ ancient Greek drama The Bacchae. It tells the story of Dionysos, who returns to Thebes to punish mortals who refuse to acknowledge his divinity, bringing madness and destruction upon the entire city.
The work transcends mere retelling of ancient myths, using the city’s embedded violence and humanity’s collective yearning for madness to sharply examine contemporary social ills. It raises profound questions about power and oppression, individual freedom, and identity, guiding audiences toward powerful catharsis.