This is part of the Antigone Project, which is being held by the Goethe Institute Hanoi in collaboration with the Youth Theatre of Vietnam.
The project attracted the participation of six Vietnamese theatre directors, including Bui Nhu Lai, Tran Luc, Ha Nguyen Long, Le Thi Hoa An, multimedia composer Ha Thuy Hang, and choreographer Tran Minh Hai.
Through their work, each of the artist will present the audience with their own interpretation of ‘Antigone’ by ancient Greek writer Sophocles.
Speaking at a press conference held on October 29 to introduce the project, Goethe Institute’s Director Wilfried Eckstein said that Antigone by Sophocles is world literature, which has inspired the creative world and challenged us to reflect on human nature and our place in society over the past 2,500 years.
According to him, ‘Antigone’ by Sophocles is little known in Vietnam; however, the female character’s fate is quite similar to that of Kieu in the ‘Tale of Kieu’ masterpiece by Vietnamese poet Nguyen Du (1766-1820).
Like Kieu, Antigone comes from a good family, makes a moral decision for moral reasons and is consequently at the mercy of power structures and violence in her environment. Her attitude can be both an example and a warning for us today, he said.
For their parts, the Vietnamese artists expressed their delight to join the Antigone Project, adding that they were interested in exploring the similarities in Eastern and Western cultures while working on the project.
They also voice the hope that the introduction of the six plays from November to March 2022 will give a boost to Vietnamese stage theatre after a long period of temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
