The Edinburgh Fringe Show

Hosted ByEwan Spence

Explore the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Ewan Spence through a mix of reviews, news, and interviews.

The Edinburgh Fringe Show 2026 – Elizabeth McCoy and Ken Cerniglia – Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical

Our final podcast preview, before the actual press previews start in Edinburgh. Join us next week as we move to daily episodes, but for now…

How can the classics reflect modern life? That’s one of the small thoughts that lies behind Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Music. The classic story is brought to relevance in 2026 by looking back to the titular 1989. Set in (ahem) Thebes, California, at the height of AIDS activism and gay-rights upheaval, it explores politics, morals, and the cost of staying silent.

Elizabeth McCoy and Ken Gerniglia join me to talk about returning to one of the first-ever stories and using it as a line to highlight the world around us, their approach to writing a musical, and the quiet anticipation of herding the young cast around the capital while challenging the mood coming from the Capitol.

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