CityLife

A spellbinding, powerful production with superb performances throughout. The way this play speaks to the modern world is partly due to the strength of the play itself but also to the crisp direction of Greg Hersov, who takes us on a roller coaster ride through the drama. <br /> <br /> Yet another excellent addition to what has been a vibrant season of plays at the Exchange<br />

Having bought a ticket for Antigone on a whim while supposedly Christmas shopping in Manchester, I really enjoyed the intensity of this 1 hr 40 minutes. The issues it raises - about power, arrogance, the place of the state vis a vis religion, politics, the individual and the family could esily be transposed from ancient Greece to today. I loved the dance interludes - I thought they brought an emotional perspective to the play which was sometimes missing from the acting and they touched me in a different way from the words and actions of the characters. While not convinced by the relatively modern dress, I found myself constantly imaginging George W Bush and/or Tony Blair being in the position of Creon and would thoroughly recommend this thought-provoking experience.<br />

I was really impressed. Antigone managed to hold my attention for the full hour and forty minutes.<br /> <br /> However, I did think the interludes of dance were a little silly and redundant, felt like they were tacked on for the sake of making the production a little more avant garde. The use of contemporary dress was mostly really good, not distracting the audience with togas and the like, and giving the whole affair a slightly post apocalyptic feel, but the soldiers in full black block desert storm regalia seemed a little twee and desperate. They made any use of the phrase "crimes against the state" rather heavy and unwieldy. <br /> <br /> So although parts of it seemed a bit silly and desperate, mostly it was a really strong, touching and evocative production. <br />