Antigone: Alan Lucien Øyen reimagines Sophocles through dance in Paris

Antigone returns to the Théâtre de la Ville in a new production by Alan Lucien Øyen. From October 1 to 7, 2026, the Norwegian choreographer and director brings together nine performers in the Grand Salle of Théâtre de la Ville–Sarah Bernhardt to revisit Sophocles' tragedy through a blend of dance and theatre.

The production revisits the clash between Antigone and Creon to probe notions of dignity, morality, and responsibility. Alan Lucien Øyen thus threads the ancient text into contemporary concerns, notably around how the binaries of truth and falsehood or good and evil are constructed.

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The cast is also one of the project's strengths. Nazareth Panadero, Héléna Pikon and Julie Shanahan, three performers tied to Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal, are taking part in the creation. They are joined by Enoch Grubb, Douglas Letheren, Pascal Marty, Antonin Monié, Fernando Suels Mendoza and Meng-Ke Wu.

Alan Lucien Øyen directs the staging and choreography, with Andrew Wale and Daniel Proietto on board as artistic collaborators. Åsmund Færavaag designs the set, Stine Sjøgren handles costumes, Martin Flack lights, and Mathias Grønsdal contributes notably to the video.

Running 2 hours 35 minutes with an intermission, Antigone is performed in English with French surtitles. The production is recommended for ages 14 and up. Six evening performances are scheduled at 8:00 p.m. from October 1 to 7, with a break on Sunday, October 4.

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