Antigone challenges us to consider the vulnerability of democracy – the collaboration between Helsinki City Theatre and the Theatre Academy will premiere in April
Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone, which premiered 2400 years ago, is once again topical: civil disobedience, the status of women and the challenge to power are discussed by theatre makers all over Europe. Now, as a co-production of HKT and the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, the classic will receive a new, thoroughly composed interpretation, featuring 14 future theatre artists.
The people are living a new era under the strict orders of King Creon in the war-torn city of Thebes. The brave Antigone wants to bury her brother who died in battle, but Creon does not allow this, threatening Antigone with the death penalty. The young woman must make a choice: whether to submit to Creon’s rule or to follow the voice of her conscience – even if it means death.According to director and director Minna Harjuniemi , who is responsible for the adaptation of the performance, Antigone feels like a particularly suitable choice for young actors at a time when democracy and social structures are under constant pressure.“Burying a brother does not directly correspond to any possible situation in modern society. Defying those in power, on the other hand, is the only way in which change can happen. That they don’t agree to everything. In the original play, Antigone is an individual, but in this interpretation, she expands into an entire generation,” Harjuniemi describes.The text of the co-production of HKT and TeaK is based on Kirsti Simonsuur’s Finnish translation from 2011. Antigone is a thoroughly composed work with music representing the electronic sound world by Emma Raunio.“In its timidity, electronic music is combined with the purity of the work and the inevitable fate of tragedy,” says director Harjuniemi.The work features third-year students of the acting degree programme at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki: Olavi Angervo, AbdirahmanBile, Annika Junno, Eeli Jurvelin, Clara Kinnunen, Elisa Mattila, Adela Ogunbor, Venla Pulkkinen, Mawlawi Rahem, Alberto Rama, Pyry Rautiainen, Pyry Räty, Miriam Shange and Freddie Sukura.
The dramaturg is Ari-Pekka Lahti. The set design is by Katariina Kirjavainen, the costumes by Laura Dammert and the camouflage by Henri Karjalainen. The lighting design is by Kari Leppälä and the composition and sound design by Emma Raunio.
The performance is a continuation of the collaboration between the Theatre Academy and the Helsinki City Theatre that began in spring 2021, in which third-year acting students come to the Helsinki City Theatre in the spring and prepare the performance together with professionals. Antigone is the sixth co-production of the collaboration. Antigone is one of the most performed Greek tragedies and has given rise to numerous operas and plays. The work has inspired philosophers and artists to reflect on the conflict between morality and law, as well as the relationship between the individual and power.Read the director’s interview on the theatre’s website: A Stopping Tragedy of Defying the RulerAntigone premieres on 15 April 2025 on the small stage of the Helsinki City Theatre (Eläintarhantie 5). Tickets: basic ticket 31 €, student ticket 15,50 € (Mon-Thu) and pensioner ticket 28 € (Mon-Thu) #antigone @hktfi @uniartshelsinki Helsinki City Theatre ticket sales and customer service by phone (09) 3940 22 Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket offices First line 2, Mon-Fri 12-17, Eläintarhantie 5, Sat (on performance days) 11-18.30 and one hour before the performance and Lippu.fi, Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 10-16, tel. 0600 900 900 (2 €/from min+local network charge) www.hkt.fi Photo: Photographer Mitro Härkönen, handled by Kim Sinisalo.Further information, interview requests and media ticket requests: Communications Manager Kaisa Pelkonen, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, 040 552 3788 Helsinki City Theatre, Ensi linja 2, 00530 Helsinki