Saint Louis University Theatre is going Greek.

This Friday marks the opening of SLU Theatre’s second production of the year, “Antigone,” a classic Greek drama that has been performed regularly since its inception when Sophocles wrote it in around 442 B.C.

SLU Theatre will be performing the adaptation written by Timberlake Wertenbaker.

The production is directed by Dawn McAndrews the artistic director of the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis.

“Dawn is a pretty big deal in St. Louis, so getting to work with her as a college student has been really exciting,” said James Canfield, a sophomore member of the drama’s ever present chorus.

“Antigone” tells the story of a woman whose brothers fight against each other during the Theban Civil War. When Antigone’s brothers die and their uncle becomes the new ruler, he declares that the rebel brother is not to be buried. Antigone feels it is her familial duty to bury her brother and goes against this order by performing a funeral ceremony, setting the play’s classically tragic elements into motion.

The classical staging of the play has presented somewhat of a challenge to the cast and crew.

“Greek theater requires you to move in a different way,” Emily Guck, a junior who plays the drama’s title character. “It’s more presentational.”

Nowhere has the cast found this more evident than in the actions of the chorus.

“It explores movement-oriented pictures being made with the body . . . The chorus in particular has had to deal with nine people moving as one,” Canfield said.

Though “Antigone” is older than many plays performed at SLU in the past, the theatre department has worked to make it more accessible and interesting to a modern audience.

“It’s definitely Greek- inspired, which you’ll see in the set and costume . . . And they’ve done a really good job respecting the classic language, but have also made it very accessible to a modern audience,” said Guck.

While both actors agree that the experience has been a challenge, they assure students that there’s nothing to fear from the production.

In addition to performing an adaptation with more understandable language, the large role for the chorus has been made more accessible.

“In Greek plays the chorus sometimes comes across as confusing or boring, but, with the lighting and movement being incorporated, this production is giving a more entertaining portrayal,” Canfield said.

Tickets are on sale now in the box office in Xavier Hall. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $7 with a student ID. Faculty tickets are $9.

“Antigone” begins performances on Friday at 8 p.m., with additional performances on Saturday, on Nov. 21, and on Nov. 22, all at 8 p.m., as well.

There is a matinee showing on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.