Review: ANTIGONE, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Photo credit: Helen Murray
Hadestown came first, turning the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice into a scathing inditement of late-stage capitalism and its effects on the climate crisis. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre now bravely builds on this theme of recontextualising ancient Greek tales to expose our issues as a society with bold and challenging ideas that shock and provoke in their new production of Antigone.
Corruption is clearly nothing new. As newcomers to this story may struggle to believe, Regent's Park's Antigone is based on one of the first stories ever told back in 441BC. Told as it would've been back then, in an outdoor amphitheatre, this production is much bigger than the sum of its parts. As now, when ancient Greeks would've heard nature, we hear sirens - the sounds of our own politically fractured city. Talk about immersive theatre.
Inua Ellams has embedded the DNA of the original tale deep within this highly contemporary story of Islamophobia and prejudice rooted within our government. Antigone (Zainab Hasan) becomes the Niece of our Home Secretary (Creon, played by Tony Jayawardena) who is in the midst of rewriting the Human Rights Act as a more conservative British Bill of Rights. When an act of terror results in the death of two of her siblings (one on each side of the gun), Creon refuses to allow the supposed "perpetrator" a respectful Islamic burial while providing a state funeral for the other.
When Antigone challenges these corrupt new laws to practice her religion, she is made an example of by Creon as he throws her behind bars. This sparks a movement within the overly policed state, colliding Ancient Greek tragedy with contemporary politics using modern costume, composition, and hip-hop verse in an exceptional exploration of ideas that hang above our own society like the shadows cast by the trees that surround the stage.
The material is urgent, necessary and thrives in its messaging. All aspects of the production fuel the fire that is this company’s spirit and desire for change. Ellams possesses a talent for charging every single word spoken; there's a purpose to everything while still remaining accessible to those who may not be as politically minded. The complex story is made easy enough to understand by Ellams' interpretation.
And what better director to bring this vision into reality than Max Webster. Always challenging the boundaries of what theatre can be, Antigone is no different. With co-direction by Jo Tyabji, it educates audiences with empathy embedded throughout whilst never slipping into a preach-like tone. Every aspect of production has been carefully considered and choices, such as Antigone remaining on stage inside a small box, add so much to our understanding of the story.
To further modernise the piece, wonderfully composed music has been added throughout, punctuated by hip-hop moments of rap and spoken word. It's exceptionally creative and is used the right number of times. Michael 'Mikey J' Asante (music) and Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (choreography) have excelled themselves here.
As our society moves deeper into irreparable political fracture, theatre such as this is ever more important. This is a call to action from before the beginning of time, and one we, the audience, must carry through beyond the gates of Regent's Park.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Callum Wallace
Antigone plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 24 September, with tickets available here.
