Antigone

 The good thing about Gorgeous Dave is that he is up for most things socially and like me is keen to experience theatre which is out of his normal “ comfort box” .
Last night it was his turn to choose a venue and so he bought tickets to the Greek tragedy Antigone followed by an eclectic performance by a mixed group of deaf stand up artists described as A Night Of Sign.
All this was based at Chester’s Storyhouse theatre.

Initially I thought it was all going to be a bit of a slog, as the ancient Greeks were all a bit serious what with Oedipus shagging his mother Jocaster and the like but director Natasha Rickman with the writer Hollie McNish have forged a new telling of a story with deaf actors as the two leads and with British sign language and written captions enhancing the script and plot.

I didn’t know the story of Antigone and essentially it is a simple one. Antigone ‘s brothers, both kings of Thebes died fighting over their title . Their corrupt uncle Kreon becomes ruler and vilifies one brother over the other, refusing to let his body be buried and the story takes an interesting turn when the young princess Antigone stands up to the misogynistic king and defies him

The profoundly deaf actress Fatima Neimogha is stunning as Antigone .She not only acts through what is essentially a tough part but lives it with sign language and words complementing her words wonderfully.


   Unfortunately some aspects of the play didn’t work as well. The young, presumably student amateur actors in the supporting roles were wooden and awkward compared to the leads and the occasional use of 1980s pop songs intended to support and lighten the piece was a mistake.
But overall I enjoyed it.

The play was followed by an in house stand up performance by a selection of deaf performers which took place in the foyer barb of the Storyhouse. Deaf,comics, poetry performers, dancers and a rap artist took to the stage with the rapper Chris Fonseca(pictured) being a stand out (and I never thought I’d ever say that )

The whole evening sparked ( as it was intended to do) much discussion and debate on the car journey back, and it was almost midnight when I got home! 

This morning I’ve got off. I had rostered myself for an overtime shift to cover sickness but another nurse who lives a stones throw from the hospice volunteered  to cover saving me the long commute.
It’s breezy and colder today and I’m donning my pretentiously expensive  North Face jacket and woolly hat to take the dogs out.
It’s Liverpool later…..

It’s all go 


34 comments:

  1. Were there lots of deaf people in the audience? I don't think I would have liked the production but glad you enjoyed it with Dave.

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    1. There were more in the stand up.
      The production was interesting and saved totally by its lead
      The stand ups were variable but that is more a reflection of the interpreters rather than the acts themselves

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  2. Yes, Ancient Greek plays weren't a bundle of laughs! It sounds an interesting evening. I'm glad you didn't have to get up early for work after that. The weather is brightening up here in sunny Southport, so you should be OK in Liverpool later. xx

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  3. Never mind that. I want to hear what you know about sausages.

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  4. Are you going to have the attitude and stance of a rapper John-cool or is it sic or sick?or bad?-I like it anyways x

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    1. I have no idea what you have just said

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    2. Sorry about that-possibly at the time it may have entered my head-not sure really now myself x

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  5. Interesting theatre! I saw a production of "The Tempest" a couple of years ago which had both deaf and hearing actors in it.

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    1. The signing enhanced the production in this case

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  6. Those ancient Greeks dealt with the deep stuff, didn't they?
    I really admire how you get out and do things that expand your life and mind.

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    1. What is the alternative desrheart?
      I have to make the effort xx

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  7. All go...you love it!

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    1. I'm off to liverpool as I type this...I need a day in bed at this rate

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  8. A bad play, beats good television, it is good to hear new spins on classics

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  9. Barbara Anne1:55 pm

    How marvelous that there was a new spin on this ancient story. It's a shame some of it didn't work, but that's up to live and learn. Antigone looks authentic.
    Hugs to the kind co-worker who took your morning shift today.
    Have a wonderful time in Liverpool - but then any time with Nu is wonderful. :)

    Hugs!

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    1. Yes.it will be lovely to see her and her hubby Jim

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  10. I'm glad it was an interesting performance. I think merely seeing the name "Antigone" would have turned me off. Memories of high school lit class!

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    1. We did catcher in the rye
      That wasn't a bag of laughs either

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  11. I bet I bought my pretentiously expensive North Face jacket many years before you, so there :-)

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    1. I don't do labels usually unless a charity shop one-BUT when my uncle passed I bought a jack wolfskin! x

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  12. I can't remember when I last went to the theatre. Unfortunately the standard of theatrical productions in Belfast leaves a lot to be desired. I envy you the Chester Storyhouse.

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  13. Now thatI am profoundly deaf this would have not been on my choice of entertainment. But it is good that such things are becoming much more common - even on Strictly this year.

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  14. I've never been to a theatre of the deaf. I always assumed it was strictly for deaf audiences. I'll have to put it on my voluminous to-do list.

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  15. Sounds like hard work to me, but we each can enjoy what we enjoy.

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  16. This performance was an unusual choice. It sounds like a combination of good and not so good. Dave is good company and I'm glad you both had a good time.

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  17. Thanks for sharing the magic of the day.

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