Antigone, by Sophocles, premiered around 441 BC in Athens, Greece, at the Festival of Dionysus at the outdoor Theatre of Dionysus on the southern slopes of the Acropolis.
The story so far … Oedipus, unknowingly, killed his father and married his mother, Jocasta. He became King of Thebes. Oedipus and Jocasta had four children, Eteocles, Polyneices, Antigone and Ismene. When Oedipus discovered what he’d done, he put out his own eyes. Jocasta killed herself. When Oedipus ceased being king, his sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, agreed to alternate as king. When Eteocles refused to give up power to Polyneices, Polyneices gathered a foreign army of Argives and attacked the city. In the ensuing battle, the Thebans triumphed over the invading forces, and the two brothers killed each other, with Eteocles defending the city and Polyneices attacking it. The action of the play begins immediately after the battle. Creon is a brother of Jocasta and thus an uncle of Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles and Polyneices.
Greek Theatre Now presents Antigone at the Burbidge Amphitheatre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia, in April 2025.
Directed by Cate Clelland, one of Australia’s most experienced Greek theatre directors, and featuring Ella Buckley as Antigone, Ian Russell as Creon and Alastair McKenzie as Haemon, Antigone explores themes of divine law v human law, citizenship v family loyalty, civil disobedience, and the role of the individual and the role of the collective.
Schools – April 10 + 11, 2025, last week of term. Members of the public can attend schools performances if they wish.
General Public – April 18 to 21, 2025, Easter long weekend.
“The Greek theatre plays explore the role of the individual and the role of the collective,” said Greek Theatre Now founder and producer Michael J Smith. “They are as relevant today as they were 2500 years ago when they premiered in Athens during the birth of democracy.”
