Antigone is a modern retelling of Sophocles’ timeless tragedy, playing at Bille Brown Theatre from October 26 to November 16. The epic argument rages on. Directed by Travis Dowling, Antigone is the tale of a great city that has been torn apart by a civil war between two brothers. In the aftermath, both lie dead — one hailed as a hero and lying in state, the other condemned as a traitor and dumped in a carrion pile. From the ashes of their conflict rises a dystopian state under a new leader — a career politician who rose to power by dint of her ruthlessness.
Grieving and heartbroken, their sister Antigone challenges the leader for the right to bury and mourn her dead brother with dignity, sparking a furious act of rebellion that will shake the city to its foundations. Sophocles’ Antigone has been performed and adapted more than any other Greek tragedy. Queensland Theatre artistic director Sam Strong says this version of Antigone cuts through the clichés, “creating something genuinely urgent”. In this lyrical adaptation of Sophocles’ timeless tragedy, award-winning Brisbane playwright Merlynn Tong adds an urgent modern twist. “Merlynn Tong has written an adaptation for the ages and for right now. She has captured the poetry, velocity and intensity of the original. But she has also transformed it into a story for today, including an interrogation of gender and leadership,” says Mr Strong.
Antigone sees Christen O’Leary and Jessica Tovey reunite after their triumphant pairing in Twelfth Night. Designer Vilma Mattila (Hydra), lighting designer Ben Hughes (L’Appartement) and composer/sound designer Tony Brumpton (City of Gold) also come together to bring to life the world of Antigone.
Readers also enjoyed our socials from Queensland Theatre Fangirls
