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.
Antigone, daughter of Oedipus – Ella Buckley
Ismene, daughter of Oedipus, sister of Antigone – Sienna Curnow
Creon, King of Thebes – Ian Russell
Eurydice, wife of Creon – Sarah Hull
Haemon, son of Creon and Eurydice, engaged to Antigone – Alastair McKenzie
Teiresias, an old blind prophet – Michael J Smith
Guard, a soldier serving Creon – Justice-Noah Malfitano
Messenger – Crystal Mahon
Chorus Leader I – Neil McLeod
Chorus Leader II – Kate Eisenberg
Chorus, people of Thebes – Jessica Beange, Samuel Thomson, Selene Thomson, Sarah Hull, Justice-Noah Malfitano, Crystal Mahon, Alastair McKenzie, Sienna Curnow, Michael J Smith
Graphic Designer / Photographer – Carl Davies
Costume Designer – Tania Jobson
Movement Director – Lachlan Ruffy
Director / Designer – Cate Clelland
Producer – Michael J Smith
Special thank you to classics consultant Emeritus Professor of Classics at the Australian National University Elizabeth Minchin
Thank you to Helen McHugh and Candy Yan at the Australian National Botanic Gardens / Parks Australia (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water)
Translation – Ian Johnston, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Thank you Ian. The script is in the public domain.
