Hannah Roten ’26 remembers walking into Guilford’s Theatre Studies Department as a first year from Charlotte a little nervous.

“I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know a lot of people,” she says. “But that’s what is so great about theater. Everyone quickly becomes family.”

Over the next two weekends that family is coming together to present the Theatre Studies Department’s first play of the season. “Burial at Thebes,” a new adaptation of Sophocles' Greek tragedy “Antigone,” will run over the next two weekends, Oct. 26-28 and Nov. 2-4 at Sternberger Auditorium in Founders Hall. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Student tickets are $2 and general admission is $5.

Set in the fifth century B.C., “The Burial at Thebes” introduces Antigone (played by Dice Jordan ‘24), who learns that his brothers have killed each other in battle. Creon, the lead played by Josh Wilson ’26 (above), is the new king of Thebes and uncle of Antigone. He  ensures that a burial will take place for only one of the brothers. Anyone defying his wishes will face death. Antigone wrestles with whether to stand up to his uncle, while Creon grapples with his own position.

“Burial at Thebes” was translated for the stage in 2004 by the late Irish poet Seamus Heaney. Guilford’s version updates the play to New York City in 2023.

Beth Ritson-Lavender, co-chair of Theatre Studies, says the updated Creon is more like a media mogul Rupert Murdoch or former President Donald Trump. “He’s a big, fat CEO where money is the bottom line and the Greek chorus is his board of trustees who really don’t like the way he’s taking care of the kingdom,” says Beth.

Josh says the updated version of the Greek tragedy resonates with him and that audience members will feel that same connection. “The way we’re telling the story and modernizing the story is going to be powerful and relatable to anyone who comes,” Josh says. “I’m really excited to take the audience on that journey with us.”

Beth says she’s excited there are three first-year students – Jonathan Vega ’27, Debbie Aaron ’27 and Amanda Brier ’27  – in the play who have never performed on stage before. Heidi McIver ’24 is also making her theatrical debut.

“We’ve got such a broad range of students and majors from across the campus,” she says. “They’ve all come together and are doing wonderful work.”

Beth says Guilford students have an active role in selecting the plays that are performed. Interested students submit a play, and their peers vote on the top three. “After that,” says Beth, “I put them in a room with Chinese food and don’t let them out until they’ve decided on two plays for the season.”

Beth says she can’t wait for opening night. She’s proud of how far the cast and crew have come in the two months they’ve been rehearsing together. “It’s inspiring to see how everyone has brought this play to life,” she says. “To see the dynamic now from two months ago is incredible.”