Project:

Persephone Bound

Created by Léda Davies and Jed Tomlinson

With additional text by Michaela Jeffery

“I AM DETERMINED TO BE SEEN”

Persephone Bound follows a young woman’s journey through three vivid realms: The Underworld — a college party that holds the painful memory of her experience of sexual assault; The Court — a bureaucratic hell-sphere where she pursues her fight for justice; and The River (Styx) — a liminal internal space where she grapples with grief, the ambiguity of memory, and the trauma of an event that has left an indelible mark on her life.

Persephone Bound, a contemporary adaptation of the Greek Myth of Persephone, is a play that uses stunning poetry, percussion and aerial circus work to tell the story of a young woman’s courage and pain as she navigates the complexities of speaking out about surviving sexual assault.   

Persephone Bound was the recipient of several 2020 Montreal English Theatre Awards including: Outstanding Lighting Design (Martin Sirois) and Outstanding Contribution to Theatre.  The production was also nominated for Outstanding Costume Design (Diana Uribe), Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding PACT Production.

What the press is saying

“a soaring retelling…told with grace, inventiveness and hope.” 

— Cult MTL 

“This is an example of a show done simply and beautifully, from the stark lighting design by Martin Sirois, to the decadent and out-of-this-world costuming and set design by Diana Uribe.”
— Montreal Theatre Hub 

“One must applaud the amazing and original work this is. This is a wonderful and imaginative interpretation of a story that must be told.”
— Montreal Rampage 

“Visually stimulating” 

— The Link Newspaper 

“short, sharp shock of a show . . .
elegantly directed by Micheline Chevrier,
has an unexpected beauty and grace..” 

— Jim Burke, reporter for The Montreal Gazette 

Cast

Léda Davies

Jed Tomlinson

Eric Nyland

Creative Team

A co-presentation with
Geordie Theatre & Imago Theatre

November 2019, at the DB Clarke Theatre 

Samuel Boucher, Technical Director

Micheline Chevrier, Director

Danna-Rae Evasiuk, Assistant Stage Manager

Elaine Normandeau, Stage Manager

Erika Parra, Assistant Designer

Martin Sirois, Lighting Design

Haylee Tucker, Production Manager

Diana Uribe, Set & Costume Design

Lucie Vigneault, Movement Director

Katey Wattam, Assistant Director

Project History 

Prior to its world premiere in Montreal, and with the mentorship and partnership of Micheline Chevrier and Imago Theatre, Persephone Bound underwent multiple creation residencies through La TOHU, École National de Cirque, Playwright Workshop Montreal and Centaur Theatre.

in 2017 a 30-min version of Persephone Bound was presented at McGill University as a part of the #ConsentMcGill campaign hosted by The Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education.  Subsequently, in 2019 a full-length version was presented at the University of Alberta  by the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies and the Department of Drama.

We acknowledge the contributions of the following artists who helped make the creation of Persephone Bound possible including: Rachel Walker (Aerial Choreographer and Circus Coach), Emma Thibaldo (Dramaturg) Catherine Viens (Aerial Puller), Dana Dugan (Aerial Puller), Manuel Acevedo Civantos (Aerial Rigger), Luc Valée (Lighting Design, McGill University 2017), Geoff Buchanan (Lighting Design, University of Alberta), Gabrielle Garant (Stage Manager), Selene Ballesteros-Mingüer (Assistant Stage Manager), Jim Mneymneh (Photographer), Andrew Andreoli (Videogrpaher).