They met at Greek school; Now they are bringing ‘Antigone’ to Australia

(L) Elena Carapetis, (R) Director of the play ‘Antigone’ Anthony Nicola and Jennifer Stefanidis Assistant Director. Photos: Jessica Zeng/State Theatre Company

Two Greek Australians, playwright Elena Carapetis and director Anthony Nicola, bring the first heroine of western drama raging into the 21st century with a twisted and subverted take on Sophocles’ Antigone, premiering in South Australia this month.

“To me this play is a personal and political response to the Ancient Greek story of Antigone, using it as a launchpad to create something completely new to audiences. Antigone was the first person in western theatre to say ‘no’ to a king and she was a 16-year-old girl. She was silenced and killed in the story contained within the classic Sophoclean text. We are experiencing a time when the voices of young people are still being silenced, but they continue to endure and speak up when they see wrong or injustice. People like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai to Grace Tame – these girls to me embody the spirit of Antigone,” Ms Carapetis told Neos Kosmos adding that the original Antigone story continues to play out in the real world today.

“My play flips the lens through which we view the story,” she says.

Funny, cheeky and anarchic, the kaleidoscopic production takes the fictional heroine from 441BC and time-travels through the ages to blow a storm through the corridors of power.

Starring Chiara Gabrielli (Gorgon), Kathryn Adams (Forgiveness), Kidaan Zelleke (Hamlet in the Other Room) and Mark Saturno (Hibernation), the play comes to life under the direction of State Theatre Company South Australia resident director Anthony Nicola in his mainstage directorial debut.

Anthony Nicola, who will be joined by a stellar creative team including composer Jason Sweeney, designer Meg Wilson and lighting designer Gavin Norris, says audiences should expect the unexpected.

“The script starts off as a very familiar rendering of the play, Classical and Greek. But with the stage direction ‘Two Thousand Years Later’ it explodes and splinters into vignettes of the now, where we meet ‘Antigone’ of today. The show explores the enduring power of the patriarchy and why the voices of the young and queer continue to be silenced and eliminated,” says the 24-year-old Greek Australian director who was chosen by Ms Carapetis to direct her play.

“Elena and I met at Greek school and share the same deep love for Greek tragedies. For me those classic Greek heroines were the characters I first connected to in drama so when Elena rang me to tell me she was writing an adaptation of Antigone it was an honour and a dream come true. I feel privileged to be involved in the project,” says Mr Nicola whose family originates from the islands of Rhodes, Kos and Cyprus.

Artistic Director Mitchell Butel says Carapetis’ Antigone dares to shake the very foundations of theatre itself.

“Elena’s text has the potential to charge every audience member with the spirit of Antigone. Elena wants us fired up about the state of the world, and she wants us to go out and do something about it.”

“I have been knocked out by the shows directed by our Resident Director Anthony Nicola for Flinders University and RUMPUS and am thrilled he is making his directorial debut for the company with this kaleidoscopic and form-defying play,” Butel says.

“In this shake-up of one of the greatest works in the theatrical canon, playwright Elena Carapetis is tearing down the house of convention with a knowing wink. Audiences are in for quite a ride.”

Twenty-one-year-old Greek Australian Jennifer Stefanidis is also making her debut as assistant director and says she is very excited to be involved in the project.

“It means so much to me to be involved in this project mainly because growing up I have had a real strong affection for women in Greek mythology and history.

“I have always looked up to Medea and loved all the female ancient Greek characters for their complexity. It has been amazing to bring cultural context and my experience to this. The play is really important for all audiences and all gender identities. It doesn’t demonise men. It shows how the system of patriarchy can be damaging to all. It is full of hope and inspiring, but at the same time it is hilarious and a very well-rounded piece of art that has a lot of heart in it,” says Jennifer whose family originates from Florina (Leptokaria) and Ioannina (Perama).

When: Until 11 June

Where: Odeon Theatre, Norwood, South Australia

For tickets visit: www.statetheatrecompany.com.au/

neoskosmos.com