"I can't carry my sister. . .I have to carry linens, and my family curse."

This powerful line--set in the Japanese internment period of World War Two--was uttered by Andrea Whittle, a local actress in the Antigone Project: A Play in Five Parts. Six other cast members presented this production to all in the OES Upper School community on Wednesday morning.

The Antigone Project is the result of five contemporary women playwrights of color combining forces to reimagine the myth of Antigone: a young Greek woman who defies her family and the rule of law to bury her brother's body in the wake of war.

Before the theatre show came to OES, a group of students banded together to create a video in order to impart the ancient story to their peers. The advent of the video enabled the Upper Schoolers to fully participate in the post-Antigone Project discussion with their peers. Elise K. '17, who played Antigone in the OES video, asked, "What was your goal in presenting this project, and how did you navigate so many different themes?" The cast (including Seth Rue '01!) shared that during their three week rehearsal process, they had many discussions about how best to weave together such a variety of historical periods and heavy themes. 

(Photo Credit: Cameron Jack)