The Flame written by Matty May
Performed by Queer Collective & directed by Adam Carvell and Jess McKenna.
The Flame is a dazzling, rebellious reimagining of Greek myth, where ancient legends collide with queer defiance in a world both mythical and deeply modern. In the underground sanctuary of The Below, Tig, Icarus, and Prometheus wrestle with power, identity, and the fight for freedom. With cabaret, revolution, and a touch of divine mischief, this electrifying tale of resistance, reinvention, and chosen family burns bright. Will they rise, or will the old gods snuff out their spark?
Arcola’s Queer Collective is East London’s performance collective for LGBTQI* people, exploring queer identity and how to present it theatrically.
This is an amateur production as part of Arcola’s Participation Festival. To hear more about how to get involved with Arcola’s Queer Collective, click the google link below: https://forms.gle/1P7Js3yFoCpzuu2v8
Content warning: strong language, sexual references and references to violence.
The Bakkhai – Euripides – A new version by Anne Carson
Performed by Arcola Mental Health Community Company & directed by Aoife Beaumont and Josh Picton.
Madness or divine ecstasy? The Bakkhai is a gripping exploration of power, repression, and the fragile line between reason and chaos. As Dionysos descends upon Thebes, the city is consumed by a fever of liberation and destruction. At its heart, this ancient tragedy confronts modern struggles with identity, control, and mental health—examining how society treats those who refuse to conform. When the mind is pushed to its limits, will Thebes embrace the cure or succumb to the madness?
Content Warning: Depictions of violence 12+
Arcola Mental Health Community Company exists to create space for East London based adults to use theatre to tackle the stigma around mental health. This is an amateur production as part of Arcola’s Participation Festival. To hear more about how to get involved with Arcola Mental Health Community Company, click the google link below: https://forms.gle/1P7Js3yFoCpzuu2v8
