Antigone in New York

GilmorehillG12, Glasgow, Fri 27–Sun 29 Jun

ADAPTATION

Known for finding inspiration in outdoor spaces, Theatre Found will transform Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park into Central Park for a production of Janusz Glowacki’s Antigone in New York as part of the West End Festival. This lively promenade performance begins outside the GilmorehillG12 theatre where the audience will be led into the park by a shadowy figure known as ‘the policeman’.

Glowacki’s tragi-comedy follows three immigrants who come to America and end up living in the park. The Antigone myth surfaces when a Puerto Rican woman named Anita searches for a dignified way to bury her lover, Paulie. With its moving dialogue and challenging themes, members of the company are hoping the play will raise people’s awareness of Scotland’s own homeless people.

Artistic director Carrie Westwood’s policy of ‘theatre without doors’ aims to create a comfortable dramatic experience for everyone. So far they’ve had a positive response. ‘If it’s an outdoor play, people can walk away, but we’ve found that people haven’t,’ she says. Coincidentally, the company put on a production of Sophocles’ Antigone last year to a receptive audience of all ages.

While it’s refreshing to see theatre performed in the environment for which it was written, Scotland is not the ideal place for al fresco entertainment. Does the weather play a major role? ‘That can be tricky,’ laughs Westwood. ‘Bring your umbrellas.’

More: Theatre, Previews (Theatre), Adaptation, Antigone in New York, Carrie Westwood, Janusz Glowacki, Theatre Found

Comments

No comments yet – be the first.

To post a comment you'll first need to log in: Forgotten your password?

Log in

Email
Password
Remember

Not registered? Sign up – it only takes a minute.

RSS feed of these comments