Antigone: Performers' vocal interpretation of character (accent, volume, pitch, timing, pace, intonation, phrasing, emotional range, delivery of lines)

Antigone: Performers’ vocal interpretation of character (accent, volume, pitch, timing, pace, intonation, phrasing, emotional range, delivery of lines)

Understanding Vocal Interpretation

• Vocal interpretation plays an essential role in the portrayal of the characters in ‘Antigone’. The use of accent, volume, pitch, timing, pace, intonation, phrasing, emotional range, and delivery of lines influence the overall perception of a character.

Accent

• The accent of characters could reflect their social and geographical background. For the ancient Greek audience, variations in accent could underline distinctions between native Athenians and ‘foreigners’, with characterisations such as Ismene and Antigone.
• Notably, specific accents might be used to underline the conflict between the royal house of Thebes (Antigone and Ismene) and the outsider ruler Creon.

Volume and Pitch

• Volume and pitch can strongly evoke the emotional state of a character. Conflicts and anguish may be expressed through heightened volume, while moments of introspection or fear might be delivered in a lower volume and pitch to imbue the lines with a more personal tone.
• A strong, commanding pitch and volume, for example, can highlight Creon’s authority as a king, whereas fluctuating volume and pitch could reflect Antigone’s emotional turmoil.

Timing, Pace and Intonation

• Rushed pacing and timing can communicate anxiety or urgency, while a slower pace may emphasise the significance of a line, deep thought, or sorrow. For instance, Antigone might employ both during her argument with Ismene – conveying her urgency to act and her deep sorrow respectively.
• Intonation gives further depth to a character’s words by expressing their emotional context. This is especially crucial in the delivery of dramatic irony, such as when Teiresias reveals Creon’s impending doom.

Phrasing and Emotional Range

• Differences in phrasing expose a character’s personality and emotions. Short, terse phrases may denote anger or authority, while longer sentences may suggest contemplation or diplomacy.
• Actors should demonstrate a wide emotional range, particularly for complex characters like Antigone and Creon. They transition from defiance to despair, stubbornness to regret, which requires great emotional versatility.

Delivery of Lines

• The manner in which lines are delivered can greatly affect their impact. For example, a defiant line delivered calmly can give an impression of cold determination, while the same line delivered passionately can seem desperate or angry.
• Moments of silence or pauses can add dramatic effect, create tension and underscore significant emotional shifts or revelations.

Familiarising oneself with these vocal techniques and understanding how they relate to a character’s motivations and the overall narrative of ‘Antigone’ is key to a dynamic and faithful interpretation of Sophocles’ classic tragedy.