WORLD PREMIERE – CO-PRODUCTION
In recent years, Epidaurus has carved a distinct artistic identity through a series of world premieres, achieved either through co-productions with leading international institutions (Schaubühne, Schauspielhaus Bochum, and Residenztheater), by hosting acclaimed international theatre companies (such as the Comédie-Française under Tiago Rodrigues) or by commissioning eminent European directors to stage classic works of Ancient Drama, such as Frank Castorf’s Medea in 2023 and Timofey Kulyabin’s Iphigenia in Aulis in 2024, both of which featured Greek actors. This year, Ulrich Rasche—whom we first met in 2022 with his striking staging of Agamemnon by Aeschylus in a co-production with Munich’s Residenztheater—returns to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus to helm direction for Sophocles’ Antigone, together with a stellar cast of Greek actors. A co-production of the Athens Epidaurus Festival and the National Theatre of Greece, the performance will be presented in Epidaurus for three nights only.
For those who witnessed Agamemnon, the ecstatic energy of the performers as they moved ceaselessly atop a vast motorised revolving stage remains indelible. Taking his radical stage language one step further, Rasche now relies on the unrivalled translation of N. Panagiotopoulos to bring to life the timeless heroine of Antigone.
The performance will inaugurate the Festival’s programme on the final weekend of June and is poised to leave the most profound artistic imprint on the anniversary year of 2025.
Lead Donor of Epidaurus Anniversary Programme:
Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
The SNF sponsorship supports the participation of the Athens Epidaurus Festival in this co-production.
Direction – Set design Ulrich Rasche
Dramaturgy Antigone Akgün
Translation Nikos A. Panagiotopoulos
Music Alfred Brooks
Costume design Angelos Mentis
Lighting design Eleftheria Deko
Chorus training and guidance Yannik Stöbener
Assistant director David Moser
Set design assistant Lukas Kötz
Assistant to the director Thomais Triantafyllidou
Assistant to the set designer Evangelos Agatsas
Cast Giorgos Gallos Creon, Dimitris Kapouranis Haemon, Kora Karvouni Antigone, Filareti Komninou Tiresias, Kitty Paitazoglou Ismene, Thanos Tokakis Guard
Chorus Vassilis Boutsikos, Stratis Chatzistamatiou, Dimitris Kapouranis, Thanasis Raftopoulos, Gal Rompissa, Giannis Tsoumarakis, Giorgos Ziakas and three additional actors
I have always dreamt of directing Antigone by Sophocles at Epidaurus. Perhaps it is a little unusual to say, but my initial choice wasn’t informed so much by Antigone herself as by the figure of King Creon. As we know, Antigone is the heroine of the play. She resists the authoritarian rule of the King and asserts her own vision of what must be done. Her strength and defiance against authority are indeed admirable. Only, do we not live in a society where it is explicitly easy for everyone to assume the role of a hero or a heroine, speaking and acting according to their own set standards? Do we not sometimes forget that Creon's duty as king is to safeguard the state and its laws? Ι believe it is crucial to cast a closer look at the king and the arguments he puts forth—arguments that are so masterfully articulated by Sophocles in this tragedy.
As the Greeks know well, democracy is an achievement that has been slowly crystallised over centuries, built upon individual freedoms as well as responsibilities. In Antigone, the one who defends this political order is none other than Creon. Even though his judgements are misguided, even though he proves incapable of rising to the demands of governance in this political momentum, it is worth examining further Sophocles’ arguments by delving into the character of Creon.
Above all, I am delighted for the opportunity to explore the depth and complexity of the tragic poet’s vision at Epidaurus, together with an ensemble of Greek actors.
Ulrich Rasche
