“Thus Spoke Sophocles” is a new political tragedy written by Rajdeep Roy and presented by Nautanki Theatre as a public play reading on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the Arts & Cultural Exchange in Parramatta as part of 2nd Parramatta’s LIT!

The play brings the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles into a contemporary setting. It blends three distinct stories of political resistance, starting with an adaptation of his classic tragedy Antigone. The narrative mirrors the ancient conflict of Antigone against modern-day women rebels who risk everything to stand up against oppressive regimes. Roy uses the framework to re-examine civic duty, moral defiance, and the enduring relevance of Sophoclean tragic themes in modern activism.

To amplify the emotional weight of the play, the production team collaborates with Neel Banerjee to resurrect forgotten South Asian protest ballads, historic people’s songs, and tracks from the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) & Progressive Writers Works.

The presentation reflects Nautanki’s commitment to championing new Australian writing, intercultural storytelling and the extraordinary creative voices emerging from Western Sydney.