Photo: Marta Syrko

New production Oedipus Rex / Antigone replaces Jocasta’s Line

16 February 2024

Director Mart van Berckel and choreographer and director Nanine Linning form the new artistic team for the new production Oedipus Rex / Antigone. This production replaces Wayne McGregor's Jocasta’s Line, as opening production of the Opera Forward Festival 2024.

Regrettably, stage director and choreographer Wayne McGregor has had to withdraw from the production Jocasta’s Line due to private circumstances. It is therefore no longer possible to bring his vision of this double bill to our stage. We are delighted and grateful however, that we have been able to assemble a new artistic team at very short notice, allowing both works – Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex and Samy Moussa’s Antigone – to still have their (world) premiere.

Creative team

The new production, entitled Oedipus Rex / Antigone, will be led by Dutch director Mart van Berckel (who developed and directed the impressive performance Ändere die Welt! at the Opera Forward Festival 2023) and Dutch choreographer and director Nanine Linning (artistic director of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam from next season). Together, they will fuse the worlds of classical tragedy and contemporary music in a unique theatrical experience. In doing so, they will work with an impressive cast, including Sean Panikkar (Oedipus), Dame Sarah Connolly (Jocasta), the Chorus of Dutch National Opera and principal dancers Anna Ol and Qian Liu (alternating as Antigone). Conductor Erik Nielsen and composer Samy Moussa, along with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, will remain working with the new team. The involvement of the dancers of Dutch National Ballet will be less than originally planned.

Sophie de Lint (director Dutch National Opera) and Ted Brandsen (director Dutch National Ballet): “We are very saddened that Wayne McGregor has had to withdraw from the production as the work he has done with our dancers has been very inspiring. We would like to express our gratitude to the new creative team for making themselves available at such short notice and we thank all artists and colleagues involved in this project for their flexibility. With the ongoing engagement and focus of everyone involved we remain convinced that this production will give Opera Forward Festival 2024 the thrilling opening it deserves.”