Antigone as the Arab heroine

Instead of being set in Ancient Greece, the story of Antigone will be played out in the modern-day Middle East under the backdrop of the Arab Spring.

Students at a rehearsal of Antigone. Some of the dialogue of the 1500-year-old tragedy has been rewritten to address a modern-day Arabic audience. Pawan Singh / The National

SHARJAH // A group of students is to take to the stage to act out an ancient Greek play that has been reinterpreted in a modern Middle East setting.

Antigone, a tragedy written by Sophocles in the 5th century BC, tells of its eponymous heroine who is renowned for her courage to speak the truth to those in power.

In the American University of Sharjah production, the lead is being played by a Saudi national, while the action takes place with the backdrop of the Arab Spring.

The characters’ costumes will reflect modern regional clothing and a Bedouin character has been introduced to the narrative.

“We always try to re-explore a piece, as opposed to just doing it how it has been done before,” said Anthony Tassa, the performing arts coordinator at the university’s College of Arts and Sciences.

One of the revisions was to give the characters more Arabic-sounding names. King Creon, the play’s arrogant ruler, is renamed King Khalid.

Tiresias, the blind soothsayer who warns the king about his hubris, becomes an Arabic woman named Natheera, which means the “one who sees far” in Arabic.

Mr Tassa has experience in adapting plays into modern settings. He set Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in Bosnia and most recently moved Macbeth from Scotland to the Arab world.

Some of the dialogue has also been rewritten with Arabic phrases included in the narrative.

Abubakr Al Ani, who acted as Arabic language and culture adviser to the production, said: “These are not words that would change the storyline, but they are fillers that give some Arabic flair to it. They give you more authenticity.

“The story wants to reflect the Arab Spring, it is a contemporary Antigone and it is happening in the Arab world, so some Arabic words give authenticity to it being here.”

Mr Tassa said that adding the Arab cultural elements to the story also help his students – all of whom are Arabs – connect with their characters.

“I think it gives them a sense of ownership,” he said.

“As a director, you don’t tell your actors what movement to come up with, so we’ll come up with themes related to the Arab Spring or talk about some of the events that have gone on and then let them come up with their own movements that are inspired by something personal. It becomes more personal for them.

“So when you see them making a gesture or a movement, it has got more meaning.”

Omnia Eldahshoury, 26, an American who plays the old Bedouin woman, said the Arabic version of the Greek tragedy makes the story relevant to regional audiences.

“It is personal because a lot of the audience that will be coming to watch our show are Arab,” said Ms Eldahshoury, who also designed the poster for the AUS production.

With the Arab Spring happening, this is what the director wanted – he wanted people to feel like it touches them, so it is more relatable to the audience.”

Nissreen Al Mansouri, 23, a Saudi who will play the part of Antigone, said she hoped that the audience would be moved by the story.

“I feel they should be inspired to stand up for what they believe in,” said Ms Al Mansouri.

“You should stand up for it even if it seems hard, even if your life depends on it.

“If you believe what you’re doing is the right thing to do, then you should go for it regardless. Don’t be afraid to question those in power.”