It is ironic that this production reconceptualises Sophocles’ Antigone in a future dystopia yet captures the strong sense of ancient ritual, and spectacle, in this climactic Theban play.
Originally staged by the Classical Theatre of Harlem in 2018 and now streamed free of charge (the film is edited by Shawn René Graham and Ty Jones), the story of Antigone’s rebellion against King Creon comes with plenty of nods to our own age. A news ticker rolls out the latest on the warring brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, who are dead at the start of the play, the latter’s body ordered to be left untouched by Creon – rather than be buried – because of his disobedience against the state.
