Antigone reworking explores the human cost of Creon’s rigid laws
Nina Segal’s reworking of Sophocles’ *Antigone* explores how King Creon’s refusal to question his laws affects everyone in Thebes. In Jeff James’s production, a spreading ring of black, tar-like liquid marks the boundary between those accepted and rejected by the king, then stains those caught up in its consequences.
The production mixes the Greek tragedy with direct address and stories delivered by actors stepping out of character, including accounts of bereavement and suicide. The reviewer finds these moments moving but loosely connected to Antigone’s plight, and says the focus on describing emotions rather than showing events can feel distancing. Alex Lowde’s eggshell-like set offers a striking image of birth, confinement and what remains after death; the play runs in Chichester until 17 October.
- Nina Segal’s *Antigone* reworking traces the effects of Creon’s rigid laws.
- Direct address brings personal stories into the ancient tragedy.
- The experimental production has striking images but can feel emotionally distant.
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Antigone is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Sophocles over two thousand years ago, set in the city of Thebes. It tells the story of King Creon and his unyielding law forbidding the burial of Antigone's brother, who died whilst attacking the city. Antigone defies this law to honour her brother, placing herself in direct conflict with the king's absolute authority.
The play has endured for centuries because it explores the tension between individual conscience and state power. It examines what happens when those in authority refuse to reconsider their decisions even as their people suffer the consequences. Questions about justice, mercy and whether laws should be questioned remain urgently relevant to audiences today.
Theatre companies continue to stage Antigone because its themes about power and responsibility resonate across different times and cultures. Each new production offers audiences an opportunity to find contemporary meaning in the ancient story.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Antigone Exits review – emotions run high in experimental reworking of Greek tragedy”.