πολλὰ τὰ δεινὰ κοὐδὲν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει...
Many the wonders, many the terrors, nothing compares to man... (S. Ant. 334)
In 2026 the University of Sydney's Classics Department and Student Classics Society jointly staged a production of Sophocles Antigone. It was the most recent expression of a student classical dramatic tradition that began in 1886, with a performance of Aeschylus' Agamemnon in the University's Great Hall. Our actors portrayed the Sophoclean contests of familial duty and religious authority to much applause, and their performances were accented cleverly with Australianisms (our "Watchman" wore flip-flops and a beach-hat; our "Soothsayer" was accompanied by squawking birdsong). Our chorus, which assembled the efforts of musicians, choreographers, singers and dancers, broke fresh dramatic ground, putting new energy into an ancient artform - the art of choreia (poetry, sung and danced as a unity). We performed four of Sophocles choral odes to music and dance; two of them were sung in the original Ancient Greek.
We are excited to reprise our Ode to Man, the 1st Stasimon (choral number) of Sophocles Antigone. The performance represents humankind interacting with the earth, the gods, animals, and other human beings. In the narrative of the tragedy, this song is prompted by the revelation that somebody has broken the Tyrant's law. But here the chorus looks beyond the immediate political problems facing their city, instead portraying represent mankind buffeted by the perennial laws of the universe itself. We also present a choral performance of a Stasimon from Euripides' Bacchae, which will form part of a full production scheduled for April-May 2027.