Antigone

by Sophocles

On 27, 28 & 29 June, the National Theatre of Greece opens this year’s Athens Epidaurus Festival with a World Premiere, presenting Ulrich Rasche’s production of Sophocles’ Antigone in Nikos Panagiotopoulos’s unsurpassed translation.




Ulrich Rasche returns to Epidaurus three years after his captivating staging of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, a co-production with Munich’s Residenztheater.

Now, Rasche develops his radical stage language in Antigone, Sophocles’ deeply political play that explores the difference between the individual and the citizen and the limits of personal will within an organised society, as well as the identity of a functioning democracy. Highlighting the archetypal character of Antigone, the German director poses crucial questions about her conflict with Creon, who he views not as an authoritarian but as a genuine protector of the interests of the State, and therefore of democracy.

Faced with the consequences of a civil war, Creon dictates that because Polynices had led a rebellion against Thebes, he should not receive a proper burial. This decision underlines his conviction that loyalty to the state is of paramount importance and that treason must be severely punished in order to maintain social stability. His actions might well be considered justified if seen in the light of pragmatic governance and the need to maintain civil order. But where do the boundaries between moral responsibility and political power lie? How can enduring democracy be ensured?

Having tackled ancient drama at a number of major European theatres as well as Epidaurus over recent years (Seven Against Thebes and Antigone in 2017, The Persians in 2018, The Bacchae and Electra in 2019, Oedipus in 2020, and Agamemnon in 2022), Rasche once again presents his pioneering theatrical vision to audiences at Epidaurus in an Antigone performed by an outstanding cast with a ten-member chorus of talented young actors and four on-stage musicians.

With Greek and English surtitles.

This production will be performed solely at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.