Their judgement torn, their reason torn, demented from the holy : Ritual (dis)memberment and staging Euripides\u27 The Bakkhai.

This thesis examines key moments in my experience directing Euripides\u27 The Bakkhai (as translated by C. K. Williams) in February of 2003 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, in partial fulfillment of my Master of Arts degree in Theatre. It also explores some of the theories and techniques which informed that production. Chapter One examines my experience as a theatre practitioner and the factors that led to my directing The Bakkhai. A close reading of selected moments in Euripides\u27 text make up Chapter Two, which also reviews recent literature, defines key terms and explains the choice of translation. Documented in Chapter Three is the base of critical theory (both literary and performance-based) utilized in approaching the text, including an exploration of Structuralism, Postmodernism and Poststructuralism in reference to Ritual (Dis)memberment. Chapter Four describes how the notion of Ritual (Dis)memberment informed the collaboration between the director, the production team and the actors, as well as affecting the auditions and the development of the staging. Chapter Five is a reflection on the project, utilizing reviews and personal responses from audience, faculty, friends and students, as well as my own perception of lessons learned and it examines notions for approaching future directing projects, particularly Classical Greek drama