UK Department of Theatre and Dance opens season with Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’ at Limestone Hall
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2026) —
The University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance opens its 2026-27 season with “Antigone,” Jeremy Sams’ celebrated English adaptation of Jean Anouilh’s modern retelling of Sophocles’ classic tragedy, running Oct. 18, 20 and 21 in the Lexington Historic Courthouse’s Limestone Hall.
Where do you draw the line?
That question sits at the heart of “Antigone,” which follows a young woman who defies the state to bury her brother, setting personal conscience against political power. Sams’ translation is known for its vivid, accessible language and bold theatrical style, bringing the play’s questions of duty, courage and civil disobedience into sharp contemporary focus.
“Bringing ‘Antigone’ outside the walls of our traditional theater spaces and into historic Limestone Hall is an important part of how we educate our students,” said Susie Thiel, Department of Theatre and Dance chair and associate professor in the College of Fine Arts. ”Performing in a space with such a deep connection to Lexington allows our students to engage directly with the community while experiencing how theater can transform nontraditional spaces. These experiences teach our students that theater does not have to exist in one particular kind of building; it can happen anywhere people gather to share a story.”
The production marks the opening of a season built around stories that ask audiences to examine where they stand when belief and authority collide. “We’re inviting the audience into the world we’re creating,” said Christina Ritter, senior lecturer in the College of Fine Arts. “We ask them to consider the over 2,000-year-old questions that this remarkable play asks.”
“Antigone,” runs 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 in the Lexington Historic Courthouse’s Limestone Hall. Tickets are $19 for adults and $11 for students and are available at etix.com. The production contains mature themes, including civil disobedience, death and family conflict, and is recommended for high-school age and older.
A special request for attendees: Audience members attending the "Antigone" are invited to step back in time to 1940s Paris. Guests are encouraged to dress in their best 1940s attire, or something neutral if vintage apparel isn't on hand — though there's no obligation to dress up at all. All are welcome to come as they are and share in the telling of this story.
“Antigone” (Sams, trans.) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc. (www.concordtheatricals.com).
