Piliot Theatre to Bring ANTIGONE to Exeter Northcott Theatre

Following the critical success of his recent plays Kingston 14 at Theatre Royal Stratford East and Pilot Theatre's touring production of The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, the acclaimed and award-winning playwright Roy Williams is once again set to join forces with York-based Pilot Theatre, this time to bring Sophocles' Antigone up to date in a bold new contemporary version of the classic Greek tragedy that will be relevant to today's audiences.

Directed by Pilot Theatre's Artistic Director Marcus Romer and co-produced with Derby Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East, Antigone will be at Exeter Northcott Theatre from Wednesday 26 - Saturday 29 November

Williams' new version of Antigone re-imagines Sophocles' tale about loyalty and truth, human nature and human behavior in a contemporary setting creating a new piece of theatre that will reverberate with today's audiences whilst also illustrating Pilot's excellent reputation for creating innovative work in new and exciting ways for a young theatre audience.

The production's excellent cast will include Mark Monero (Steve Elliot in EastEnders and One Man Two Guvnors, National Tour; Gamba Cole (Kingston 14, Theatre Royal, Stratford East); Savannah Gordon-Liburd (Loneliness of the long Distance Runner, Pilot Theatre and Oliver Wilson (Henry V, Propeller Theatre Company and Blue/Orange, National Tour).

Williams said on adapting the classic Greek play: "I was intrigued to know if it was possible to set Antigone in a world that I have written about before, i.e. the gangster culture that is too often the life of a lot of young people today."

"It has always disturbed me to hear young people say that being in a gang makes them feel powerful. But as we all know power does corrupt. Creon begins the play feeling all-powerful with his gang running 'tings' in Thebes. It is almost like he and others like him, have put aside other feelings that make us human, like love and fear, in favour of a "live fast, die young" mentality. "

Pilot Theatre aim to inspire creativity and new ways of thinking and are strategic innovators in the field of digital networks and leaders in the delivery and distribution of work for, by and with young people. Last year the company received much acclaim for their production of Blood + Chocolate.

The production will be supported by an extensive National Schools' programme which will be run alongside the tour. The programme will provide an informative education resource pack, which explores the themes and story of Antigone and their relevance to the production and in today's society, especially with young theatregoers. The programme will also be offering parallel work and workshop activities and bespoke participatory projects with the production's host co-producing venues.

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