Sophocles’ Antigone is set for a modern retelling this summer and will receive its premiere on the main stage of the Storyhouse from 13-23 October. 

Award-winning poet Hollie McNish takes the Greek masterpiece, which centres around the daughter of Oedipus, Antigone and how she must brave her uncle’s wrath to honour her brother’s death, and has injected the 21st century into it. 

Antigone marks McNish’s first solo play, with every performance streamed live. Previously a former resident poet in the Storyhouse, McNish will also be bringing the tour of her latest book Slug to the Storyhouse later in the year. 

The show is being co-produced with Manchester-based TripleC, a disabled-led organisation which supports access and representation for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people across the arts and screen sectors. They will ensure that Antigone is accessible to creatives and actors as well as the audience. 

 Running alongside the production will be a school’s programme, which will be pre and post show workshops allowing access to exploring the new text. 

Storyhouse artistic director Alex Clifton said: “It’s 18 months later than planned, but I’m really excited that we’re finally going to be able to present Hollie’s vibrant adaptation of this important work – a work which poses pertinent questions, about parenthood, gender, immigration and the role of the state in all our lives. 

“This modern retelling will place the voices of young women and girls firmly to the fore, with girls from our youth theatre taking the role of the chorus.” 

For further information and how to book, please click here.