antigone lives*

< back to search results

Synopsis:

antigone lives* is an unfaithful re-telling of Sophocles’ original. It’s more like a rave than a play and combines techno, despair, and family politics in a 200 bpm exploration of the carcass of democracy and notions of revolution. There’s also a goat and a pack of jackals attempting to navigate the growing crisis of displaced peoples in our “global village”. Follow a modern antigone attempting to do “what’s right” in the modern world of social media, performative politics, intergenerational trauma, class privilege, only to discover the struggle doesn’t end in the life after death. This play centres on the pressure for modern youth to make sense of a world on fire.

Originally commissioned by Residenztheatre as a part of “WELT/BÜHNE” 2018 Festival of international new works in Munich, Germany.

Characters:

the royal siblings:

antigone (f / non-binary): youngest of the four siblings. engaged to haemon. trying to figure out which of her sibling’s political stances is the “right one”. supposed to get married but not sure she believes in that anymore. wants to give her “traitor” brother, polynices, a royal burial – which leads to her being charged with treason. passionate. spunky. confused. incredulous.

ismene (f / non binary): a middle child. has gone the diplomatic route. deeply invested in social systems and structures. works on the council. survived a sexual assault committed by a member of one of the refugee communities she works to protect. loves order, organization, and frameworks. perfectionist.

polynices (m / non binary): a middle child. queer + gay. a techno shaman. believes the revolution will come no matter the cost. end justifies the means kinda of thinking. believes current political systems are all performative. believes in the body, in spiritual transformation, and wants to see the end of capitalism – will do anything for this, including kill his own brother. has been killed by his brother before the play begins. however, the dead realms are just as alive as the living.

eteocles (m / nonbinary): the eldest. the golden boy. pansexual/bi. loves the free market and believes capitalism and the systems in place are as good as any. knows he is a prince and believes that is a good thing. loves his country, thebes, and will do anything to protect it, including kill his own brother. has been killed by his brother before the play begins. however, the dead realms are just as alive as the living.

the leader of the rebels:

ardrastus (f / non binary): the leader of “the seven” – is the one helming the rebellions against thebes. takes the form of a jackal. is she living, is she dead? it doesn’t seem to matter. is she human, is she a jackal, it doesn’t seem to matter. a badass. a prophet. infamous. powerful. wanted dead or alive.

First Produced:

Originally commissioned by Residenztheatre as a part of “WELT/BÜHNE” 2018 Festival of international new works in Munich, Germany.

Resources:

Play can be accessed at Canadian Play Outlet for digital copies (https://www.canadianplayoutlet.com/products/antigone-lives-by-susanna-fournier) and to access performance rights, please contact Colin Rivers at licensing@mqent.ca

Notes:

This play is meant to be fluid and adapt to the needs of the ensemble. While it’s been written for 3 female actors and 2 male actors, any of these roles could be cast with non-binary performers. There is also the option for a real (or digital) chorus of jackals, which is why the cast can be anywhere from 6-9 or use doubling. University productions have cast real actors as the chorus and background performers in the rave with great success. Regardless of this being a portrayal of a family, please cast diverse actors. This play does not subscribe to theatrical “realism/naturalism” so casting can be interpretive and suit the ensemble desiring to stage the work. It is very multidisciplinary. Could involve live musicians (DJ’s) and choreography.

Warnings:

Contains swearing, sexual language, suicide, guns, language suggesting sexual abuse, language around trauma and triggering trauma.