Antigone

Sophocles, Lulu Raczka

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781786828828
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Gender Studies
• Edition: 1

The war is over. The dead have been buried. The traitors have been punished. People feel more alive than they have in a long time. They are ready to start again. But Antigone is not. She will not move on, and she will not forget. She will drag everyone back if she has to. Lulu Raczka's searing adaptation of Sophocles' classic text hands the reins to the young women at its heart, creating something messy, irreverent and vital.

1

The stage is covered in dirt.

Dirt you could loose yourself in, and someone has… As two girls rise out of it. Two teenage girls.

They familiarise themselves with their surroundings, the stage, the audience, the dirt covering their bodies.

They wash themselves off, and wash each other. This is solemn.

Until they look at each other, and they can’t keep it up, they start to giggle. Then laugh. Then flick water at each other.

They get up, and start to dance.

A stupid fun dance. Part little girl. Part sexy.

The older girl, ANTIGONE, does the sexy parts well. She knows what she’s doing.

ISMENE, the younger girl, doesn’t quite understand. She’s either awkward, or naively innocent, not understanding the insinuation behind her movements.

But however it is they dance – they have fun, and soon return to laughing.

ANTIGONE: The answer is always YES.

ISMENE: YES.

ANTIGONE: Are you drinking?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: But are you drinking?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: But are you drinking drinking?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: Are you having fun?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: Are you having fun because you’re drinking?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: And would you be having fun if you weren’t drinking?

ISMENE: YES.

ANTIGONE: GOOD.

And can you take it?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: But can you take it hard?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: And do you like it hard?

ISMENE: Ummmm Yes??

ANTIGONE: Ummmmmm yes??

ISMENE: YES.

ANTIGONE: Good.

And can you give it hard?

ISMENE: Tiggy –

ANTIGONE: Ummmmmm DRINK.

ISMENE drinks.

ANTIGONE: And can you give it hard?

ISMENE: YES.

ANTIGONE: So let me hear that again –

You

Little sister

You can give it hard?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: And you like to give it hard?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: And what about fast –

Do you like it fast?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: And can you give it fast?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGONE: Wait. So you like it hard

And you like it fast?

ISMENE: Yes.

ANTIGON...