Et Toi ismene?

All of Exchange Theatre’s profits from this production went for the United Nations Commission for Refugees.

Nathalie Adam launches Et toi Ismene? with her company Chemistry Theatre and joins in co-production with Exchange Theatre The show, after having presented Jean Anouilh’s Antigone at the French high school, is interested in the character of the heroine’s sister, thus continuing the company’s presentation of strong texts and theatrical research in Voila! festival.

Antigone by Henry Bauchau

Henry Bauchau’s Antigone is a fundamentally peaceful character. She defies all forms of authority, and defines herself strongly in terms of her place within her siblings rather than an ineluctable destiny. Her character is tinged with the psychological world that we have benefited from since certain great psychoanalysts have taken up the figure of Oedipus, placing them in a context that echoes our concerns, questions, and responsibilities. The love or lack of love that we have received, and what we are able to do with our heritage. The family, the place of the woman in social structures, the question of gender, the pacifism of the artist, the unconditional love of brotherhood, and the dignity of life.

Ismène here is the pillar, the light of her sister Antigone. She allows her sister to go to the end of her choices and to die by accepting to represent life. She is not in conflict but she is the hidden face of the being that Antigone will never be. This Antigone is part of a sincere dynamic of Anti-heroism that cannot exist without Ismene. It is a question of hearing all the other characters without whom Antigone would not be what she is. A person can change a lot and make a big difference, but in the end they never succeed alone.

Artistic Choices

While working during one month of research and rehearsals, we decided that the set would be made entirely of recycled materials. We produce enough waste. Our production is contemporary, influenced by the current migrant crisis. At the time we are writing this, 11 million people are fleeing war, more than 2000 died at sea in 2015. 2000 others are blocked in Calais, and 100 people try every night to cross the Euro-Tunnel. Sadly, thousands of voices criticize what they call an invasion…