February 1922: Greek Play in Glasgow – “Antigone” of Sophocles, in Hengler’s Circus

An article on page thirteen of The Glasgow Herald, on Friday the 3rd of February, 1922, reads:

 

“GREEK PLAY IN GLASGOW

 

Arrangements have been made for the production of the

ancient Greek play ‘Antigone’ of Sophocles in Hengler’s

Circus, Glasgow, from February 27 to March 4. For this

purpose the arena and stage of the circus will be transformed

so as to represent as closely as possible a Greek theatre of the

period when the play was first produced. All the actors and

dancers, who have been in training since November, are drawn

from the University and the School of Art. They number

upwards of 130, and include a chorus of 60 from the University

and 15 dancers from the School of Art. The producer, Mr Parry

Gunn, has already achieved success in staging the Greek drama

during the past two years in Aberdeen. In his production of

‘Antigone’ Mr Gunn will endeavour to create in the audience an

emotional result as nearly as possible identical with the result

created in the original audience by the first performance of the

play at Athens. To this end the language employed will be

English, and in all respects the setting and accessories will be

of the character of modern stagecraft. New music, to be sung

by a four-part chorus, has been composed by Mr Percy Gordon.

The design and colour of the costumes have been carefully

devised by members of the Glasgow School of Art, and dances

have been evolved to suit the dramatic and musical setting by

an expert of the Dalcroze School. The acting version of the

play will be Professor Harrower’s translation. The profits of

the undertaking will be handed to the University Students’

Welfare Committee, which, with the co-operation of the

students themselves, are engaged in raising a large fund to

provide residential hostels and in other ways to supply

students with larger opportunities for mutual intercourse

and corporate life.”

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, May 2022.