Antigone may have been written more than 2,400 years ago but according to the director of a new production of the Greek tragedy by Sophocles the story is just as relevant today as it has ever been.
The play, says Marcus Romer of Pilot Theatre, is “Game of Thrones meets The Wire” and satisfies the dramatic appetites of the ‘Netflix generation’ who enjoy long-running epic stories.
Audiences will be able to judge for themselves when Antigone, adapted by Roy Williams, comes to the Lawrence Batley Theatre on Wednesday, October 15, for a four-night run (and matinee on Thursday).
The story of Antigone, a set text at GCSE and A level, centres around the children of Oedipus – Antigone, her sister Ismene and brothers Polynices and Eteocles. The brothers kill each other in a struggle for power and their uncle Creon declares that Polynices’ body will be left unburied. Antigone decides to defy her uncle’s wishes and unleashes his fury.
It is a classic tale of conflict, love, revenge and regret and was part of a series of works.
Marcus compares them to a ‘boxed set’ and says: “When Sophocles was writing this, it was Season Two. There was Oedipus before and Electra afterwards. People today want to binge on drama and watch boxed sets. It was same in Ancient Greece, people flocked to see the plays. There’s a reason why these stories became classics, it’s because they have universal dramatic themes – love, denial, tragedy and warring families, the sort of stories that still being told and whose roots are in these great epic myths.”
The new adaptation brings Antigone up to the present day and has the cast speaking in contemporary language. Antigone becomes Tig, a headstrong young woman determined to stand up against authority for what she believes is right; her uncle Creon becomes Creo, who owns a club and runs a criminal enterprise; and Antigone’s sister Ismene becomes Esme, who works in Creo’s club.
Roy Williams describes how he sees the play: “It has always disturbed me to hear young people say that being in a gang makes them feel powerful. But as we all know power does corrupt.
“Creon begins the play feeling all-powerful with his gang running ‘tings in Thebes. It is almost like he and others like him have put aside other feelings that make us human, like love and fear, in favour of a ‘live fast, die young’ mentality.”
Antigone has a predominantly black cast, which Marcus says reflects the multi-cultural audiences in theatres around the country.
The lead part of Antigone is played by Savannah Gordon-Liburd, who has appeared on stage, screen and television in a variety of roles, as has Mark Monero, who takes the part of Creon.
Re-telling the ancient classics is currently a strong theme in drama – this summer, for instance, saw the premiere of Simon Armitage’s new version of The Iliad, The Last Days of Troy.
Antigone has been written especially for young people (aged 14 and over). As Marcus says: “this classic piece can still speak to young people about the destruction and misuse of power and about relationships between parents, children and siblings.”
Ticket details for Antigone are available on 01484 430528 or www.thelbt.org
