Flipping the Lens: Greek Classic Re-envisioned on a 21st Century Stage
Posted on: Wed 25 May 2022
“The idea of a girl speaking truth to power and being silenced and eliminated is still really prevalent in our world; it’s not some outlandish, mythical idea, it’s still really present – I was really curious as to why it keeps happening and what it says about our world and the systems under which we live”.
Playwright Elena Carapetis
A new approach to an Ancient Greek tragedy embodies the spirit of modern-day heroines across the world who continue to speak truth to power.
Written by Elena Carapetis for State Theatre Company of South Australia, the upcoming adaptation of the classic Sophoclean text, Antigone, highlights the story’s sustained relevance and turns the age-old tale on its head through the lens of the contemporary world.
First adapted by the Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles in 441BC, Antigone was the first person in western drama to say ‘no’ to a king, despite dire consequences. She was just 16 years old.
Elena says her version of the work is both a “personal and political” response to the traditional narrative and is set to deliver a subverted take on Antigone that questions convention, rejects the patriarchy and reflects people who speak out against repeating injustice in a demand for change.
Elena joined Festival City’s Emma Wotzke to share more on her processes, the stage production choices and how she has engaged with some of the broader themes in the work.
Produced by Emma Wotzke
Photo by Matt Byrne supplied by State Theatre Company South Australia
