Life as Antigone
Matt Whelan as Creon in Life as Antigone. Photo Credit: : Daniel Williams.
ALMOST A BIRD THEATRE COLLECTIVE PRESENTS
Life as ANTIGONE
Written by Jean Anouilh
Directed by Willem Wassenaar
15th (preview), 16th, 17th, 18th February – 8.00pm
Te Whaea Theatre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown
Bookings: 04 381 9253 $15/12/10
“I want everything of life, I do; and I want it now! I want it total, complete: otherwise I reject it.” - Antigone
Award winning Almost A Bird Theatre Collective returns this year in the Fringe Festival with a production of Life as
Antigone by French dramatist Jean Anouilh. Based on the Greek Classic by Sophocles, the young girl Antigone fights
against the law and order of the King Creon.
This production showcases rebellion and truth in its most naked, raw and brutal form: “I want everything of life, I do;
and I want it now! I want it total, complete: otherwise I reject it.” Antigone (Fringe award winning actor Sophie
Roberts) is not afraid, in fact determined to attack the authorities. With her strong will to make a change, she chooses
to bury the body of her brother despite the restriction of her uncle Creon (Matt Whelan). This is her destiny, her faith
and death is inevitable.
Almost A Bird delves into the territory of rebellion. Every day when we open the newspapers or watch television, we are
being spoon fed with issues that should make us shake, move or act. But unlike the 1970s, we live in a world in which
young people seem to have forgotten to rebel against and fight for something. But why should the young rebel if there is
nothing to rebel against? Is this truly the sleeping generation, ignorant to what is happening in the world and not
using the means to do something about it? Has rebellion become a fashion word owned by the corporate world and popular
culture, and ruled by the air heads?
Director Willem Wassenaar (Delicates, The Glass Menagerie) is a 2006 graduate of the Master of Theatre Arts in Directing
at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and Victoria University of Wellington. He will be touring this production of Life as
Antigone to the International Arts Festival Oerol in his home land The Netherlands with this cast of New Zealand actors
later this year.
ENDS