The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite
By Wole Soyinka / Directed by David Emerson Toney / April 23-26 , 2026
The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite
By Wole Soyinka
Directed by David Emerson Toney
April 23 – 26, 2026
In the VCU Department of Theatre’s production of Wole Soyinka’s The Bacchae, we confront the unyielding scars of colonialism. Mr. Soyinka reimagines this classical myth through the lens of West African tradition and Yoruba culture, transforming the narrative into a revolutionary “Communion Rite.” Colonialism is a profound act of violence, and the journey toward peace demands a visceral, ritualistic sacrifice to wash away the past and allow a community to be fully reborn.
This production actively explores the intense energy required to silence the echo of colonialism, fostering an unflinching look at the cost of reclaiming a collective soul and the immediate necessity of disrupting an unjust status quo to achieve true healing. As we navigate this pursuit of liberation, we are guided by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr; “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”
Performances are April 23 – 26 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts (922 Park Ave Richmond, VA 23284).
Tickets: $20. Tickets available here: bit.ly/vcutheatretix
About The Director: David Toney is an associate professor of Playwriting and Performance in the Department of Theatre at VCU. His playwriting credits include Kingdom, Elysian Fields (musical), Coming Home (musical), The Soul Collector, and The Last of Midnight. The Last of Midnight has received staged readings at The New York Theatre Workshop and at the Soho Rep in New York as part of their Camp 7 series. His play Kingdom was a finalist for the Theodore Ward Prize and was produced at the ETA Creative Foundation theatre in Chicago. Kingdom also earned a nomination for the Helen Hayes/Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play. Additionally, his play with music, Coming Home, opened at the Atlas Theatre Center in Washington, D.C., and his play The Soul Collector had its World Premiere at the Everyman Theatre in Baltimore. Recently, Elysian Fields, a musical meditation on Shakespeare’s King Lear, was presented at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC, as part of its First Look Festival.
PERFORMANCE INFO:
Performances will take place in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts located at 922 Park Ave.
Showtimes:
Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets and available at bit.ly/vcutheatretix
All tickets are general admission. The VCUarts Theatre Box Office is now cashless. Please purchase tickets online or in-person with a credit/debit card. The box office opens on-site one hour before performances, and seating typically opens 30 minutes before performances.
Parking: There is a paid parking deck located at N. Harrison and W. Broad Streets. You can also use public street parking which follows Richmond City regulations.
Questions? Get in touch with the VCUarts Theatre Box Office. Phone: 804-828-2020 | Email: artsboxoffice@vcu.edu
To stay up to date on the production, follow us on social media – instagram.com/vcuartstheatre.