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Antigone: Character Relationships - education resource

Directing Drama Performance skills Performing Arts
A tense stage scene with four actors. One man sits at a desk, while another stands behind him. A third man restrains a woman in a white dress with bare feet.

Overview

Explore character relationships in Sophocles’ Antigone  with this collection of short films. Watch footage from our 2012 production and interviews with actors Christopher Eccleston, Jodie Whittaker, Luke Newberry and director Polly Findlay.

Learning outcomes

These films are designed to support the study of Greek drama and Antigone as part of a Drama or Classics course at Key Stage 3 and above.

Watch

A woman in a white dress stands with her hands tied in front of a stern looking man in a tie and white shirt. They are in a dimly lit room with a table and chairs, suggesting an intense scene.
Play Video

Creon and Antigone

Jodie Whittaker, Chripstopher Eccleston and Polly Findlay explore the complicated relationship between Creon and Antigone.

Play Video:

Creon and Antigone

Jodie Whittaker, Chripstopher Eccleston and Polly Findlay explore the complicated relationship between Creon and Antigone.
A woman wearing a patterned dress is standing with her arms outstretched, looking defiant.
Play Video

Haemon and Antigone

Luke Newberry talks about the character of Haemon and how his relationship with Antigone adds tension to his relationship with Creon.

Play Video:

Haemon and Antigone

Luke Newberry talks about the character of Haemon and how his relationship with Antigone adds tension to his relationship with Creon.
Two men in white shirts are facing each other. The older man holds the younger man's head with both hands, looking at him intently.
Play Video

Creon and Haemon

Christopher Eccleston discusses how Creon’s loss of his other sons affected the relationship between Creon and Haemon.

Play Video:

Creon and Haemon

Christopher Eccleston discusses how Creon’s loss of his other sons affected the relationship between Creon and Haemon.
Two women face each other in a dimly lit room. The woman on the right has her hands extended towards the woman on the left, pleading.
Play Video

Family vs State

One of the central conflicts in Antigone is Creon’s belief in the State, weighed against the actions of his family.

Play Video:

Family vs State

One of the central conflicts in Antigone is Creon’s belief in the State, weighed against the actions of his family.

Production information

Olivier Theatre, 2012.

Antigone by Sophocles; in a new version by Don Taylor; directed by Polly Findlay; design by Soutra Gilmour; lighting design by Mark Henderson; fight direction by Bret Yount.

Photos © Johan Persson

The full production is available to stream on the National Theatre Collection

Suitability

Suitable for 12+/KS3+

Keywords

Greek Drama, GCSE Drama, A Level Drama and Theatre, Classics, Antigone, Polly Findlay

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