A Greek Tragedy - Antigone

Antigone is a tragedy written by Sophocles in the year 441 BCE and is a play about the aftermath of a civil war in which the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other, and where the new king and their successor, Creon, tries to punish Polyneices for his disloyalty by not burying him properly. Eteocles has been given a proper burial, but Creon, Antigone's uncle who has inherited the throne, has issued a royal edict banning the burial of Polyneices, who he believes was a traitor. Antigone defies the law, buries her brother, and is caught. When Creon locks her away in prison, she kills herself.

The play is being directed in three parts by our fantastic student directors: Part 1 Charlotte Werner; Part Two Grace Johnston; and Part 3 Eilis Donnelly. The entire play has been edited by resident dramaturge, Charlotte Werner. Usually Greek Theatre is studied in Term 3, but students opted to research and perform in Term 1 and Term 2 after presentations by Classics’ HOD John Hayden and guest lecturter, Professor Chris Dearden. Performances are sheduled for early Term 2 during school, whilst evening performances will include supper and music. All performances will be performed in the CFT.

UGLY SHAKESPEARE

Performance and Workshops

Auckland-based Ugly Shakespeare performed William Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew to Years 7 - 13 in March in Constance Hall. The all-female cast performed the entire play acting as multiple characters in multiple costumes in 60 minutes. After this, the crew held drama workshops with the Year 9 Drama Unit, and both Year 10 Drama classes. Both workshops were an hour long, and everyone agreed they were not only fun but also very educative. 

Next week’s School Newsletter (Week 11) will feature an article and photos on The Frogs. The Frogs is a comedy by playwright Aristophanes which won first prize at the Lenaia dramatic festival in 405 BCE, and was so successful that it was staged a second time later that year at the Dionysia festival.