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Following a calamitous civil war between Oidipous’s two sons, Polyneikes and Eteokles, the city of Thebes struggles to resurrect itself into order. With most of the royal family dead, Kreon, brother of the previous queen Iocasta, becomes the king of Thebes and attempts to restore order, prohibiting the burial of the traitorous Polyneikes. However, his overreaching decree comes in direct conflict with both Polyneikes’s surviving sister, Antigone, and the community’s religious beliefs regarding proper burial for all humans. As such, Antigone attempts to convince her sister, Ismene, to aid her in confronting this injustice by burying Polyneikes. Following Ismene’s refusal, Antigone justly buries her brother, forcing her in direct violation of the city’s laws. Consequently, Kreon calls for Antigone’s execution, much to the dismay of the civilian population and Kreon’s son and Antigone’s fiance, Haimon. Although Haimon, the blind prophet Teiresias, and Chorus of Theban Elders attempt to convince Kreon to yield in his domineering beliefs, Kreon’s implacable stubbornness incites the most mournful tragedy in his own familial unit. A play interrogating themes of injustice, individual and state power, and abuses of power, this production of Antigone sutures this ancient narrative into a modern lens: how does our state today inflict injustice and authority over citizens' bodies? And who, in our society, is forced into the role of rebelling against such abuses?

TLAB SHARES invites a curated selection of guest artists to produce their work in our space at affordable rates. Applications for TLAB Shares are accepted on a rolling basis and should be emailed to theaterlab36@gmail.com

CAST AND CREW

Poster art by Julia Kittle-Kamp, design by m cantu

Myah Durham  antigonē