The Passion of Saints Sergius and Bacchus

Elastic Theatre re-imagines the legend of two little known saints of the late Roman Empire, their intimate relationship explored in a tale of torture and enlightenment. Watch the VIDEO.

This dance-theatre piece is inspired by the story of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, two high ranking officers in the third century Roman army, refusing to enter a pagan temple and subsequently being exiled, made to dress up in women’s clothing, tortured and killed. Some have come to believe that they were lovers, and their ambiguous relationship has raised fascinating and inevitably controversial issues of gender and sexuality in early Christianity.

Imagine a Byzantine painting coming to life on stage, following Sergius and Bacchus through torture, feasts, prison and passion, with an ensemble of two dancers and three singers. With an original vocal score devised collaboratively by the company and choreography by Lola Maury, the piece premiered at the Arcola Theatre in July 2009 and was subsequently presented as part of the Borderline Opera season at London Metropolitan University, in a double bill with MEDOUSA – a miniature opera. 

Supported by The Facility: Performance as Research and the HALE Department at London Metropolitan University. The piece is part of the company’s touring repertoire – for enquiries, please contact us.

Photo credit: Jovita Valaityte