FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Anouilh’s ANTIGONE is an adaptation of Sophocles’ tragic play. Written in 1942, when the Nazis occupied France, the play revolves around the conflict between the idealist Antigone and her rigid uncle, Creon, over the proper burial of Antigone’s brother, Polynices.
The play has been interpreted to represent the struggle of the French Resistance against the Vichy government during the Nazi occupation. Often considered his masterpiece, ANTIGONE cemented Anouilh’s reputation as a dramatist upon its Paris debut in 1943. Actors Ensemble presents ANTIGONE in celebration of Anouilh’s (born June 23, 1910) centennial year.
“The play is certainly about standing up to oppressive authority, but I also wanted to explore its spiritual dimensions.” says director Bruce Coughran. “I was curious about where a young woman finds the inner resolve to perform what is essentially an act of civil disobedience. Working on ANTIGONE has provided some surprising answers.”
Originally from southern California, Bruce Coughran has been directing and assistant directing up and down the West Coast. He recently directed the world premiere of “Bad Connection?” at West Valley College in Sausalito, and several staged readings for Subterranean Shakespeare Theatre Company. He has also been an assistant director at the Old Globe in San Diego, the La Jolla Playhouse, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, ACT in San Francisco, and the Berkeley Opera. This is the first play he has directed for Actors Ensemble.
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley has been producing rarely seen plays in Berkeley since 1957. Run solely by the efforts of its volunteers, AE is Berkeley's longest-running theater company, enlisting the talents of 100's of actors, technicians, artists and volunteers year after year.
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley
info@aeofberkeley.org
1301 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA
(510) 841 5580
Additional Contact:
Jerome Solberg (V.P., Actors Ensemble of Berkeley)
510-220-5443 (cell)
