2025: Sophocles' Antigone - Greek Theatre Now, Canberra

 

 

Antigone by Sophocles, translated by Ian Johnston (Vancouver Island University, Canada).  Greek Theatre Now at Burbidge Amphitheatre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. April 2025.

Reviewed by Frank McKone

Cast
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

Creatives
Graphic Designer / Photographer – Carl Davies
Costume Designer – Tania Jobson
Movement Director – Lachlan Ruffy
Director / Designer – Cate Clelland

Producer – Michael J Smith



Greek Theatre Now has the right show, in the right place, and on this Good Friday, the right weather.

Creon’s belief that being king gives him absolute power, never to be challenged by ordinary citizens, because good and stable government depends on having one man in charge, is a theme very relevant to the democracy / autocracy warfare by arms or in trade happening today.

His belief that men are superior to women is an equally relevant issue.

Though this amphitheatre is small by Ancient Greek standards in 440 BCE, Sophocles would be pleased with the acoustic quality here – as good as I was amazed to experience at Delphi, with its seating for 4,500! – and with the added advantage of so much more intimate contact with the audience here.

When Antigone confronts her expected to be father-in-law with “YES”, and tells him what-for in no uncertain terms why she broke his law, we felt for her, along with our friends in the Chorus.

And like them, we could see the different sides of the political argument and try to work out what was the truth, where was justice if the law was unjust, and when standing up for human rights is necessary, despite the personal consequences.

The small scale of this production, and clarity of this modern translation, made me feel that I was sitting near Sophocles and feeling along with him how exciting it was to see the message getting through.

I’m sure he was pleased with all of the actors, perhaps especially with Ella Buckley who made her Antigone such a force to be reckoned with; and impressed with Michael J Smith’s contrasting roles both in acting and in producing the show.

He also could see how definitively Cate Clelland had directed and shaped the performance – and surely was as concerned as all of us were for her brief episode of ill-health, with sincere hopes for her quick recovery.  Cate is one of Canberra’s long-standing and experienced directors and deserves a special acclamation for her work on Antigone.

Copyright: Frank McKone, Canberra