Sophocles' Antigone to be staged in Tunis

Tunis - The students of Tunis Italian school "G. B. Hodierna" will perform Sophocles' tragedy Antigone on Wednesday, May 24 at 'Le 4eme Art'. The event is organized by the "G. B. Hodierna" institute, the Italian Cultural Institute in Tunis and the National Theatre of Tunisia's capital city. Antigone focuses on the tensions that run across the Greek society of the 5th cen. B.C, but they, as archetypes, are still valid today.

The characters on stage have opposite visions and seem to find it impossible to reconcile, if not when it is too late. Audiences are left to wonder whether political power to prove its strength should bow to political expediency rather than to the higher laws of ethical duties that are immutable? And can such a power, when vested in a man, bend to the principle advocated by a woman? Antigone, Oedipus' daughter and sister, had to witness the demise of her two brothers Eteocles and Polynices, who died fighting each other for the throne of Thebes.

Creon, their uncle, thus becomes the new ruler of Thebes. He declares that Eteocles is to be honoured and Polynices, who attacked the city, is to be disgraced by leaving his body unburied on the battlefield. Antigone vows to bury her brother Polynices' body in defiance of Creon's edict, because of her blood ties and in compliance with the unwritten rules of the gods. Ismene, her sister, refuses to help her. Thus, Antigone must act alone. When Creon is told of Antigone's actions, he sentences her to be buried alive in a cave. Haemon, Creon's son who is also betrothed to Antigone, tries to persuade his father to spare Antigone but in vain. Also, the terrible words spoken by the blind prophet Tiresias do not make Creon change his mind. The tragedy completes its full course, leaving behind a trail of death and despair.