ANTIGONE [ON STRIKE]
Park Theatre
★★★★★
“a magnificent tale of what it is to be human”
Antigone [On Strike] is a most intriguing, interactive show where you get to vote by responding to questions related to the show and its subject matter, like a creative poll full of suspense and challenging arguments. Through a series of student workshops in East London, writer and director Alexander Raptotasios brings us a tragic story of two Muslim sisters that have been treated with prejudice and hate, indicating how human rights are so delicate and often overlooked for the ‘sake of the collective’s safety’.
A 14-year- old girl, Esmeh, left the UK to become part of the Islamic State in Syria. She now finds herself in a refugee camp, her UK citizenship revoked, her appeal to return to the UK rejected and with her baby seriously ill. She and her sister Antiya, who’s back in London, are desperate to bring her home, but no one listens or cares to help. So Antiya decides to go on a hunger strike, hoping to set things in motion and create change before it’s too late for Esmeh and her child.
The structure of the play mixes TV debates, news updates, social media posts and live streams, video calls (video content created by Vittoria Belli), personal interactions and public ones to create a piece that is electric. The similarities to Sophocle’s Antigone are there, a sibling that’s rejected by society, a powerful but insensitive leader, conflict between personal opinion and government rules to name a few, but they merely elevate a production that is more than capable to stand on its own two feet.
Spectacular acting from all the actors, who bring to flesh real people with complex intentions and different views. There is significant resonance in the father-son relationship between Home Secretary Creighton, played by Phil Cheadle, and Eammon, played by Ali Hadji-Heshmati, who disagrees with his father’s way of handling Esmeh’s case and decides to stay true to his own convictions, even if that means going against his father publicly. Esmeh, played by Hannah Khogali, doesn’t appear onstage, but we do see her on video, giving her own side of the story in a fragmentary way, a right that was taken away from her throughout her whole case. Sorcha Brooks is a wonderful host, talking to the audience, commenting on the answers we give and moving the plot forward. And the final speech of Antiya’s, played by Hiba Medina, about sacrifice and social change brings goosebumps by creating a shared moment of social consciousness and accountability.
Marco Turcich’s set comprises of a commanding white rectangular stage with an ancient Greek aesthetic, separating the auditorium into two sections, with audience on both sides. The actors walk around, jump and stand in different places, creating a balanced visual playfulness.
Anyone who’s even remotely compassionate about their fellow humans and interested in unpacking political and humanitarian issues, and that should be all of us, must watch this show. This production points out how important it is to be part of the conversation, through a magnificent tale of what it is to be human, especially during a time that the media play such a big role in every aspect of our lives.
ANTIGONE [ON STRIKE]
Park Theatre
Reviewed on 3rd February 2025
by Stephanie Christodoulidou
Photography by Nir Segal
Previously reviewed at this venue:
CYRANO | ★★★ | December 2024
BETTE & JOAN | ★★★★ | December 2024
GOING FOR GOLD | ★★★★ | November 2024
THE FORSYTE SAGA | ★★★★★ | October 2024
AUTUMN | ★★½ | October 2024
23.5 HOURS | ★★★ | September 2024
BITTER LEMONS | ★★★½ | August 2024
WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU | ★★★★★ | August 2024
THE MARILYN CONSPIRACY | ★★★★ | June 2024
IVO GRAHAM: CAROUSEL | ★★★★ | June 2024
A SINGLE MAN | ★★★★ | May 2024
SUN BEAR | ★★★ | April 2024
ANTIGONE
ANTIGONE
ANTIGONE
