Antigone Play at Public Theater Explores Bodily Autonomy

Contemporary adaptation of Greek tragedy centers on abortion rights conflict

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:06am

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A new production of Antigone at the Public Theater in New York City puts a modern twist on the classic Greek tragedy. Playwright Anna Ziegler has transformed the story, with the central conflict now centering on the issue of abortion rights rather than the burial of a brother. The production stars Susannah Perkins as a punk-rock Antigone who becomes pregnant and defies her uncle Creon's (Tony Shalhoub) new law banning abortion. The play explores the moral dilemma Antigone faces in choosing her own bodily autonomy over obeying the unjust law.

Why it matters

This contemporary adaptation of Antigone taps into the pressing issue of abortion rights, which has become a major political and social flashpoint in recent years. By reframing the classic Greek tragedy around this modern moral quandary, the play offers a new lens through which to examine timeless questions of individual liberty, the role of the state, and the limits of civil disobedience.

The details

In Ziegler's version, Antigone (Perkins) is a free-spirited young woman who becomes pregnant by her fiance Haemon (Calvin Leon Smith), the son of King Creon. When Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, outlaws abortion, Antigone must decide whether to obey the law or risk her life to terminate the pregnancy and assert her bodily autonomy. Her more cautious sister Ismene (Haley Wong) urges Antigone to comply, but Antigone is willing to defy Creon's edict, even if it means her own death.

  • Creon recently became the new king of Thebes and immediately passed a law banning abortion.
  • Antigone is facing an unplanned pregnancy and the impending wedding to Haemon.

The players

Antigone

The protagonist, a young woman who becomes pregnant and defies the king's ban on abortion, even at the cost of her own life.

Creon

The new king of Thebes, who has outlawed abortion in an effort to consolidate power.

Ismene

Antigone's more cautious sister, who urges Antigone to comply with Creon's law.

Haemon

Antigone's fiance, who is also the son of King Creon.

Dicey

A 40-year-old woman who serves as the play's narrator and sees Antigone as a lifelong touchstone.

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What they’re saying

“For Antigone, the integrity of her identity is on the line: her freedom and her autonomy hang in the balance.”

— Loren Noveck, Reviewer

“Antigone refuses to compromise and dies for it; Dicey stands up for herself in much smaller ways and forces a happy ending.”

— Loren Noveck, Reviewer

What’s next

The production at the Public Theater is scheduled to run through April 2026. Audiences and critics will be watching to see how this contemporary adaptation of the Greek classic resonates with modern audiences and the ongoing debates around abortion rights.

The takeaway

This production of Antigone offers a timely and thought-provoking exploration of the conflict between individual liberty and state power, as embodied in the issue of abortion rights. By reframing the classic tragedy in a contemporary setting, the play invites audiences to consider the enduring relevance of these moral dilemmas and their impact on people's lives.