Last updated 10th February 2020 Antigone, Interrupted Script by Joan Clevillé featuring extracts from Sophocles’ Antigone, in versions by Owen McCafferty, Don Taylor and Seamus Heaney Dramaturgy by Ella Hickson
I.
SOLÈNE: This story starts with a body, a dead body. It’s a “Greek Tragedy”, and Greek tragedies are full of dead bodies, right? They’re also full of stories about extraordinary people: heroes (and heroines) making impossible decisions, living on the edge, wrestling with passions and big ideas while talking to each other in verse. Tragedies are also supposed to have lots of people onstage, with fancy costumes and masks. Tonight though, you have only me, so wish me luck… Let’s begin. Our corpse is that of a young man. It’s lying in the open air, disfigured, amongst hundreds of other dead bodies. War ended yesterday. A dog roams through the piles of decomposing flesh. (Howls) It’s dawn and the mist has barely lifted outside the city walls. The dog walks to one of the seven gates. He lifts his leg… sssssssssssssss/ He stops. He runs and disappears into the blasted landscape… Silence/no. A little door in the huge wooden gate opens. And through it comes not a dead, but a living body: a girl.
1
Last updated 10th February 2020 II.
ANTIGONE. Is there no end to this? – Every breathing moment, - every damn thought steeped in suffering…- Has our family not suffered enough? - Choked we are, - choked with the thoughts of the dead and the sins of the past. – And now this… -Creon…[“Crion”]- The mighty King Creon! - He needs to shout louder than the rest of us, - proclaim he is the man. – Well, I, Antigone, daughter of Oedipus proclaim: – I will not be ignored.
Ismene, my sister. Have you heard it? Have you heard the new proclamation, Which the king has made to the whole city? ISMENE. No one has told me anything, Antigone, neither good nor bad. Not since the battle and the terrible news That both our brothers were dead. ANTIGONE. That's why I asked you To meet me here, where I can tell you everything Without any risk of being overheard. ISMENE. What is it then? More terrible news? Something black and frightening, I can see that. ANTIGONE. Well, what do you think, Ismene? Perhaps You can guess. We have two brothers, Both of them dead. And Creon has decreed That a decent burial shall be given to one, But not to the other… Polynices [“Polinaicies”], who died in agony Just as certainly as his brother did, Is not to be buried at all. He is to be left Lying where he fell, with no tears, And no ceremonies of mourning. Till the dogs catch the scent, and tear him to pieces and pick him to the bone. What a great king our Creon is, eh sister?
2
Last updated 10th February 2020 (Beat) ISMENE. If… If what you say is true, What can I do, one way or the other? ANTIGONE. Give me a hand to lift the body. It's too heavy for me to move on my own. ISMENE. To bury him you mean? You must be mad! We are the last ones left, sister, And what a death is promised to us if we break the law. Think for a moment Antigone, please! We are women, that’s all. ANTIGONE. Fine. That's a good excuse. I'll go And shovel some earth on my brother's body. You can go now. Go! If I am mad, you can leave me here with my madness. Death is the worst thing that can happen.
SOLÈNE: It’s December 1992, I’m seven years old, and I’m sitting in the front row of a school performance of Antigone. I’m desperately trying not to cough, my sister is playing Antigone. She’s small and skinny, but I’m in awe of her power. To be honest, I don’t understand much of the story, but I’m feeling it. Not quite sure what, but I’m feeling it. My mum directed the show and my stepfather, who was the headmaster of the school, played the part of Creon. The mighty – King - Creon.
3
Last updated 10th February 2020 II. Creon Gentlemen. We have entered calmer waters. Our ship of state was very nearly wrecked But the gods have kept her safe. (Crowd cheers) So, friends, well done. You from the start have been a loyal crew. You stood by Oedipus when he was at the helm And when his sons stepped in to take his place You stood by them as well. I'm next in line. The throne has come to me. But rest assured: there's no threat That's going to stop me acting, ever, In the interests of all citizens. Solidarity, friends, Is what we need. The whole crew must close ranks. The safety of our state depends upon it. Our trust. Our friendships. Our security. Good order in the city. And our greatness. Understand therefore that I intend To make good what I say by what I do. So hear this: my first ordinance as king of Thebes. Concerning the sons of Oedipus: Eteocles [“Eteoclis�], who fell in our defence, Eteocles will be buried with full honours As a hero of his country. But his brother Polyneices, An anti-Theban Theban prepared to kill His countrymen in war, and desecrate The shrines of his country's gods: He is forbidden Any ceremonial whatsoever. 4
Last updated 10th February 2020 Hereby he is adjudged A carcass for the dogs and birds to feed on. And nobody, let it be understood, Nobody is to treat him otherwise Than as the obscenity he was and is. This is where I stand when it comes to Thebes. Thank you. Clapping and cheering. Chorus Loud and clear, King Creon, You have laid down the law. You exercise the power. Your regulations hold Creon Thank you, gentlemen. Chorus You are our guide in these times of uncertainty! Creon Please… Have the streets been cleared of the dead? Chorus Not yet, Sir: the city is tired after the war… But we’ll be back to business very soon. Creon You are wise men. Together we will make this city great again! Chorus Our cause is the common good. Creon Do you agree with my proclamation?
5
Last updated 10th February 2020 Chorus Yes. beat Creon Yes, what? Chorus Yes, mighty Creon, King of Thebes, maker of the Law! Creon That’s right! I have a city to run. A city in desperate need of a strong leader. Yet my time, is taken up with the rotting body of a lousy traitor…
Chorus You are the king, Sir. Creon I am. And I will deal with this… with your support. Chorus Us? But how could we help you? We are just family men, small entrepreneurs, you know? Feta cheese, olive oil, Greek yoghurt… (Long beat) We are respectable citizens, we shall obey the law.
Creon Then you have nothing to fear. Sirtaki music and dance.
6
Last updated 10th February 2020 III.
SOLÈNE: Greek Tragedy, it’s the real deal… Imagine: 17,000 people sitting in half a circle, not only watching but also praying, dancing, singing, celebrating. A city searching together, looking at its demons, trying to understand what it means to be alive and how do we manage to live together without tearing each other to pieces. So… for old times’ sake: let’s take a couple of breaths together. Don’t worry if you don’t want to, I never said this was “interactive tragedy”. But if you want to join me, come towards the front of your seat, plant your feet, and close your eyes. Let’s breath in through your nose… and out through the mouth, that’s it relax your jaw. And again. And one last time, breathing in, and give me a big fat sigh…
Antigone is caught burying her brother Polynices, and she is brought back to the palace to be interrogated. The man who will judge her, Creon, is not only the king of Thebes. He is also her uncle, AND her future father in law.
7
Last updated 10th February 2020 IV. CREON. Antigone, come on, look up at me. Antigone, I’m trying to help. Why did you bury your brother? Did you not hear my order forbidding the burial? You need to understand… My word is the Law now, and nobody can be above the law.
Look, I’m just a man. I’m not like you, or your father… There’s nothing heroic about me. All I’m trying to do is to run this place the best I can so people can get on with their lives… I don’t want you to die. I want you to marry Haemon [Heimon], give him a family, help him to rule the city when the time comes. He will need you: you’re smart, and brave, your father would be proud of you. Now listen, here’s the deal Antigone: go back to your room. Go to bed, and say you're ill and haven't been out since yesterday. Get your sister and Haemon to say the same and I'll get rid of any witnesses...
(Standing up) There’s no point, right? You’ll go straight back out and do it again. I admire your courage Antigone, but times have changed in Thebes, I know my people. They will watch. Oh yeah, they will empathise, light candles in the square and wear ribbons. But in the end of the day, they will do nothing. They will sit back and watch you walk to your death. Come on, don’t you think I’m as revolted as you are by that corpse rotting in the sun? You can smell it in the palace already, it makes me feel sick. But it’s necessary that Thebes smells that body for a while. I know it’s awful kid, but it’s my job, and somebody needs to do it. It’s too easy to say no, even if it means dying. Do you know what you’re going to die for? The story of your brothers, Eteocles and Polynices. You think you know it but you don’t. The royal brothers fighting to death for Thebes! Well you know what? They were wankers, corrupt, power hungry, selfish wankers/bastards who couldn’t care less about the rest of us. Both of them, understand? When they found the bodies, they were both unrecognisable. I gave orders for whichever corpse was less damaged to be scraped together for my national funeral and for the other to be left to rot. We don’t even know which was which. ANTIGONE. I know we are in the same room, but you are so far, that I can hardly hear you, uncle. Nothing of what you say makes sense to me, because it’s your law and not the law of the gods. I have done what I said I’d do. I’ve buried my brother and I’ve done it for the right reason. I may be young, but I’m not stupid and I’m not afraid of death. Since I was born my life has been misery, it’s misery now. I will be more than happy to leave it. There will be no pain and no despair in that. But to leave one of my mother’s sons out there in the open, un-buried, that would have been unbearable. You disgust me, all of you, and your life, that has to be loved at all costs. You know I’m right, but you’ll never admit it because you’re trying to defend that happiness of yours - like a dog crouching over a bone. That’s your choice, not mine. Creon leaves.
8
Last updated 10th February 2020 V.
Long male howl. ANTIGONE. Haemon. Haemon! (Climbs on top of a chair and howls). Come on… Come on… (She howls again. Listens) SOLENE. The window cell is too high. Antigone can’t see anything, only listen. That was their secret code. Haemon would howl from the courtyard to sneak into her bedroom. It happened almost every night for months, it was a miracle she wasn’t pregnant. He smelled like wood, his skin would be cold from the night, he tasted of honey and salt… He made her laugh. Loud noise ANTIGONE. What’s this? Leave me alone. CHORUS. Hi Antigone. Our hearts break at the sight of you. ANTIGONE. How did you get past the soldiers? CHORUS. We have come to save the bride who’s being given away to death. ANTIGONE. Identify yourself. CHORUS. Of course your highness, we are the Chorus. ANTIGONE. Who? CHORUS. The Chorus. We are the citizens of Thebes. (Lip-synching) We're clearly soldiers in petticoats And dauntless crusaders for woman's votes Though we adore men individually We agree that as a group they're rather stupid!
Cast off the shackles of yesterday! Shoulder to shoulder into the fray! Our daughters' daughters will adore us And they'll sing in grateful chorus "Well done, Sister Suffragette!"
From Kensington to Billingsgate One hears the restless cries!
9
Last updated 10th February 2020 From ev'ry corner of the land: "Womankind, arise!" Political equality and equal rights with men! Take heart! For Missus Pankhurst has been clapped in irons again!
No more the meek and mild subservients we! We're fighting for our rights, militantly! Never you fear!
So, cast off the shackles of yesterday! Shoulder to shoulder into the fray! Our daughters' daughters will adore us And they'll sign in grateful chorus "Well done! Well done! Well done Sister Suffragette!"
ANTIGONE. Why do you mock me? Why do you mock me?! CHORUS. We are not mocking you, we are on your side. ANTIGONE. Seriously? With that? At least you could show some respect as I walk to my death. CHORUS. Who says we don’t? We are tired of stacking dead bodies: our friends, our brothers, our own sons… ANTIGONE. I grieve for all my dead. That’s why I’m here. CHORUS. And that’s why we’ve come. Antigone, time is running out! Come with us and beg Creon to forgive you. He’s not a monster, he’s a reasonable man… ANTIGONE. So that’s why you’re here… Goodbye, gentlemen. CHORUS. Antigone, please/ ANTIGONE. Barks at them.
10
Last updated 10th February 2020 VI. SOLENE. The soldiers arrive before dawn, Creon doesn’t want any witnesses. They blindfold Antigone, drag her up the hill, and lock her inside a cave. She can hear the muffled sound of wild dogs barking outside. It’s over. Sitting back in her chair. It’s April 2003, I’m 18 and I’m sitting in a theatre. I am holding my boyfriend’s hand, we’ve been together for twos years. I feel the sweat between our palms. I can smell his after-shave mixed with the scent of red velvet. We are watching Antigone but this time it hits me like a bullet. Three days later, I break up with Alex. Slow dance towards the centre of the circle. She sits up. It’s February 2020, I am 34. I’m rolling on the floor in a village hall in Somerset playing Antigone. How crazy is that? We’re approaching the end of the story. It’s a Greek tragedy, so it won’t end well. Fate… How about other stories that don’t have to end this way? Stories of real people, who put their bodies on the line and lived to inspire others. Bodies jumping fences, refusing to eat, protecting ballot boxes or going to jail for speaking up. Queer bodies, disabled bodies, black bodies not doing what they’re told: making love, singing, remaining silent, remaining seated, dancing… How about this moment with all of you around me, looking at me. You see me, I see you. I see your head tilting to one side. I see your ginger hair. I see your chest gently rising and falling. I see your hands resting on your lap. I see the veins in your hands carrying blood under the skin. I can’t see the blood though. I can’t see your heart. I can’t see your thoughts. I can’t see your prejudices or your hopes. I can’t see where you come from. I can’t see if you voted leave or remain. I can’t see what makes you angry or cry. I can’t see your courage… But I can see you. I can see your body, and I’m feeling it. Not quite sure what, but I’m feeling it. I also feel my calves burning. Time to go back to our story.
11
Last updated 10th February 2020 VII. SOLENE. After Antigone is buried alive, a new character arrives in the city: Tiresias [Tairisias]. He is a strange guy, he lives alone in the forest surrounded by wild animals. He is blind, but people say he can see into the future. He has come to warn Creon: (Oracle noises). I told you he’s a strange guy… TIRESIAS. It’s a cliff edge. There’s cold wind blowing. The rips and spits of blood. The birds are mad! Slime, slime instead of flame. Because of you, Creon. Yield! Yield to the dead or the Furies will destroy. SOLENE. Anyway, you get the idea. Creon and the Chorus are pretty much freaked out by the Oracle… CREON. He’s gone? He’s gone. That fortune teller is gone, but his words won’t go away. What shall I do? What shall I do? Set the girl free from behind the rocks? Make a burial mound for her brother’s corpse? Do you want me to climb down? Do you want me to climb down?! I will. I will, before the gods strike first.
SOLENE. Creon and the soldiers walk to the edge of the battlefield where Polynices’ corpse lies, or what the dogs have left of it. He prays to the gods to have pity on him, then washes the body with his own hands while the men gather wood and set fire to it. They climb to Antigone’s tomb. The men stop, as they approach, they can hear the wailing of unspeakable pain from inside the mountain. Creon’s face turns white. ‘It’s my son!’. It’s dark. He can hear Haemon crying. At the bottom of the cave he sees Antigone hanging by her neck, she has made a noose out of her skirts. Haemon lies beside her. ‘I did not mean for this to happen my son, do you understand? Come out, please. Leave her, let Antigone begin this journey on her own’. Haemon gets to his feet and spits on his father’s face, he draws his sword out. He strikes: once, twice! But Creon avoids the blows. ‘Son, come with me, I beg you…’. (Haemon turns the sword and plunges it between his own ribs). Still breathing, Haemon lies beside Antigone. He draws her body closer to his. Haemon’s life ebbs away before his father’s eyes. CREON. (NOT SPOKEN, IN HIS HEAD): Take me, hide me, blindfold me from these and keep your distance. Everything I’ve touched I have destroyed. I’ve nobody to turn to, nowhere I can go. The blow came quick. SOLENE. By the end of the play we are the only ones left to mourn the dead with Creon and Ismene. Greek tragedies, they are full of dead bodies. They’re also full of extraordinary people: making impossible decisions, living on the edge, wrestling with fate. Mourning singing.
12