Persephone: A Garden Between Worlds

Pulling on the aesthetic traditions of Viola’s Room and Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, attendees will wander through a fantastical outdoor location in Greenpoint during this intimate adventure. As Homer narrates the tale of Persephone’s kidnapping by the Queen of the Underworld, dancers and large-scale installations bring the myth to life.

The Setting
Newtown Creek has been a site of industrialization, a Superfund designation by the EPA, and most recently, a dumping ground for a serial killer. The city built a wastewater treatment plant next to the creek and in 2015, the land next to the plant was turned into a green space spanning sections of Newtown Creek.

In this production, Newtown Creek serves as the Underworld's River Styx. This site-specific play was created to highlight the tradeoffs that we make between environmental efforts and commercial interests—at the end of the experience, attendees will leave with an enlarged sense of community stewardship.

What happens during the experience?
Attendees will be fitted with headsets during the pre-performance briefing. Narration will be piped via the headsets as dancers lead attendees through the Nature Walk, which has sections of unpaved path. Each performance will be limited to 40 people.

Attendees will enter through the 530 Kingsland Avenue entrance and leave through the Paidge Avenue exit. The entire performance lasts roughly 60 minutes. The Nature Walk is wheelchair accessible, with some narrow and unpaved sections.

What happens if I arrive late?
Due to the timed nature of the performance, no latecomers will be admitted. Please arrive at Newtown Creek Nature Walk at least 20 minutes before your scheduled time to get your audio equipment set up. All sales are final and there are no refunds or exchanges in case of lateness.

What if there’s inclement weather?
We will monitor weather conditions for up to two days prior to the performance. In case of inclement weather that prevents us from performing, we will schedule alternate show dates during the weekend of 10/17. If there continues to be inclement weather on the alternate show dates, tickets will be refunded.