Antigone (Wednesday Theatre) Explained

Series:	Wednesday Theatre
Season:	2
Episode:	31
Director:	Patrick Barton
Airdate:	(Melbourne)^[1] 3 August 1966 (Sydney)^[2] ^[3] 24 August 1966 (Brisbane)^[4]
Length:	70 mins
Prev:	The Unbearable Bassington
Next:	Mr Byculla

"Antigone" is a 1966 Australian TV play directed by Patrick Barton.^[5] It was made to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of Greek Theatre.^[6]

Plot

Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, is sentenced to death by Creon, King of Thebes, for defying his orders and burying the body of her dead brother.

Cast

• Liza Goddard as Antigone
• Raymond Westwell as Creon
• Kevin Colebrook as Teiresias
• John Derum as Haemon
• Joan McArthur as Eurydice
• Ann Charleston as Ismene
• Kevin Miles as Chorus Leader
• Allan Bickford as Chorus Member
• Brian Burson as Chorus Member
• Edward Howell as Chorus Member
• Terry McDermott as Chorus Member
• John Godfrey as Chorus Member
• Frank Rich as Sentry
• Lloyd Cunningham as Messenger

Production

It was filmed in Melbourne.^[7] Barton said the role of Antigone "is usually reserved for the stage's established stars. But Liza is quite staggering." He aimed to make the production as realistic as possible and based costumes on photos of peasants in Crete and Greece.^[4]

Reception

The Age thought Westwell "did not quite succeed in projecting the intensity of the personal conflict" and the Goddard "seemed over emotional."^[8]

Notes and References

1. News: The Age. 20 July 1966. 14. Television.
2. News: WEDNESDAY . . 1 August 1966 . 11 February 2020 . 16 . Trove .
3. News: Sydney Morning Herald. 1 August 1966. TV Guide. 15.
4. TV Times. The girl who defied a king. 17 August 1966. 30.
5. News: Untitled . . New South Wales. 3 August 1966 . 11 February 2020 . 11 . Trove .
6. News: The Age. 10 March 1966. 26. Playhouse Series Could Shift Drama from Doldrums.
7. News: LOVELY LIZA . . New South Wales. 7 September 1966 . 11 February 2020 . 10 . Trove .
8. News: The Age. Antigone and Atoms. 30 July 1966. 36. Monitor.