Jocasta's Line

Jocasta's Line
2025

Company
Norwegian National Opera and Ballet

Duration
2 h 10 min / 1 break

Concept, Direction and Choreography
Wayne McGregor

Music
Igor Stravinsky, Samy Moussa

Set and Costume Design
Vicki Mortimer

Lighting Design
Lucy Carter

Video Design
Akhila Krishnan

Cast
Paul Appleby, Sarah Connolly, Michael Mofidian, Rafal Siwek, Magnus Staveland, Jens-Erik Aasbø, Grete Sofie Borud Nybakken, Julie Petanova, Anaïs Touret, Daniela Cabrera, Melissa Hough, Leyna Magbutay, Ricardo Castellanos, Erik Murzagaliyev, Alex Cuadros Joglar, Douwe Dekkers, Vasilii Tkachenko, Martin Dauchez, Lucas Lima, Jonathan Olofsson, Josh Nagaoka, Dmytro Litvinov, Joakim Visnes

Premiere date and venue
13 September 2025, Oslo Opera House, Norway as part of Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival

An ill-fated bloodline - Wayne McGregor unites classical tragedy, contemporary ballet and modern music in a grand theatrical installation. World premiere in which the Norwegian National Ballet joins forces with the Norwegian National Opera Chorus.

Jocasta's Line intertwines two Greek tragedies: Oedipus Rex and Antigone. Samy Moussa has composed new music for Antigone (2023), while Oedipus Rex will be set to Igor Stravinsky's original score from 1927.

“The incredible austerity, haunting beauty and explosive energy of Oedipus Rex, Stravinsky’s monumental opera-oratorio, offers opportunities for interpreting it through dance, and the physical character of Stravinsky’s rich musical world is reflected, expanded and recalibrated on stage. In addition, we’ve asked the brilliant Samy Moussa to compose a new work for the orchestra and women’s chorus, Antigone, as an addition to Oedipus Rex. By combining these musical compositions, we’re striking out on a new creative circle of inspiration and innovation; a space between the known and the unknown, and between story-telling and experience, in order to present timeless themes in a contemporary light.” - Wayne McGregor

Jocasta’s Line is a Co-Production and Co-Commission of Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Oslo and Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Amsterdam.

Antigone: Co-commission with Festival de Lanaudière, Canada.

Image credit: Ravi Deepres