Drama SNT Maribor

Director Diego de Brea
Translator Kajetan Gantar
Dramaturg Diana Koloini
Set Designer Diego de Brea
Costume Designer Leo Kulaš
Language Consultant Janez Bostič
Assistant to Set Designer Matic Gselman
Assistant to Costume Designer Lara Kulaš

Cast
Oedipus Branko Šturbej
Antigone Ana Urbanc
A Citizen Nejc Ropret
Ismene Mateja Pucko
Theseus Jurij Drevenšek
Creon Branko Jordan
Polynices Petja Labović
A Messenger Žan Koprivnik
The Chorus Leader Branko Jordan
The Chorus Jurij Drevenšek, Petja Labović, Žan Koprivnik, Nejc Ropret

Destined by fate to murder his father and marry his own mother, Oedipus is one of the best-known tragic heroes of Greek mythology, and at the same time the one who was immortalized by the naming of a complex that stands in the heart of Freudian, as well as popular psychoanalysis. In his final tragedy, Sophocles returned to the story of Oedipus in order to present the final stage of his life. After years of exile, the blind and elderly Oedipus, accompanied by the loyal Antigone, finds himself in the vicinity of Athens, at Colonus. The gods foretold him that he would meet his death there, and that his body would bring happiness to the city. However, the story of Oedipus and his struggles is far from over yet. As it turns out, he is not welcomed at Colonus either; his name and the crime he committed personify and evoke horror and disgust, while the behaviour of the wise old man breeds respect. However, he claims »murders and marriages and accidents, / Which to my grief, not of free will, I suffered«. A fierce dispute is provoked because of the blessing that his dead body is supposed to bestow the location of his grave. This is why the king of Athens, Theseus, takes his side, whereas Creon and Oedipus’ son Polynices, who once betrayed him, want him to stay with them. So just before Oedipus’ death, revenge, irreconcilable hatred and conflicting political agendas are ignited yet again …

This is the first Slovenian production of the final Sophocles’ tragedy. It was published a few years ago in a brilliant Slovenian translation by Kajetan Gantar.

»A truly majestic role by Branko Šturbej, on par with his most memorable appearances in productions directed by the late Tomaž Pandur in Maribor, and with many of his principal roles at the SNT Drama Ljubljana.«
Melita Forstnerič Hajnšek, Večer

English subtitles

Followed by a post-show talk at the Drama Forecourt. The talk will be hosted by Marko Mandić and Jan Krmelj.