Antigone

“Antigone” by Sophocles is one of the greatest tragedies of all times.

The heroine is a young adolescent girl who confronts the authorities with a moral and ethical challenge. This confrontation between the rules of state and those of religion is echoed in Israel of today.

It is the morning of Creon’s first day as ruler of Thebes, following the battle in which the Thebans successfully withstood the attack of Argus’s army on Thebes and in which the brothers Eteocles and Polynices kill each other.

Antigone decides to bury her brother Polynices, who fought on the opposite side to the state, despite Creon’s explicit orders not to do so on pain of death.

Antigone’s sister Ismene tries in vain to dissuade Antigone from doing so but Antigone believes that the rule of the gods is above the rules of state. When Antigone is caught red handed she admits her deed without hesitation.

At first Creon sentences Antigone to death despite the fact that she was to become his daughter in law by marrying his son Haemon, but with the advice of his consultants and the prophet Tiresias he goes back on his decision.

Eventually Creon decides to bury Polynices and release Antigone but it is too late.

The curse and Hibris (the sin of pride) which continue to hang over the house of Oedipus and blind both Creon and Antigone, bring upon them their bitter end.

Duration: 1 hour (without intermission)

Premiere: October 26^th, 2019