Persephone National Tour

Hades

The Junction, Cambridge -> Little Theatre, Doncaster -> Courtyard Theatre, London

Directed by Emma Hawkins

Musical Direction by Carrie Penn

For those of you who've been following the show for a while, you'll know that I have been involved with Persephone since 2020, workshopping the show. We had a successful run at the Oxford Playhouse in November 2021 which was well-received by critics and gave a us a solid platform to pitch the show for a National Tour in the Summer this year.

The performances of Bethan Draycott and Peter Todd in the two leading roles were a particular highlight, with Todd truly standing out as the tortured, mischievous and charming Hades. Hades is subjected to a string of emotional trials and Todd portrayed these challenging emotions effortlessly, truly enabling the audience to empathise with a character usually considered to be one-dimensionally evil.

~ Mark Gregory, Yorkshire Times

This was my first time with a show on a national tour, which seems apt given my emotional investment in the show's development and the time I've spent working on the show. It's amazing how spending so much time with a character allows to you pick apart their psychology more completely - there is always more to explore and discover behind their thoughts processes and motivations. Coming back to these characters after a period time allows you to reflect on their nature and, while it felt familiar to step back into the shoes of Hades, you can bring out more depth than you saw before.

Sparks fly between Hades and Persephone, with an electric chemistry that brings this production to life. The authenticity of the pair’s budding romance is vital to the play’s re-interpretation of the original tale.

~ Alex Fice, Cambridge Edition

We had a week to work through the script to make edits and final tweaks, rehearse the scenes, sort the blocking and run the show before we took off around the UK. I had the extra responsibility of driving the props van on tour - I won't tell you how many times I took the wrong exit at a roundabout - and making sure, with the help of our Company Stage Manager, Mina, that everything got where it needed to be on time. Something tells me I won't be rushing to Company Stage Manage any time soon - it's a stressful job and I have so much respect for those who take it on!

Bethan Draycott as Persephone and Peter Todd as Hades have a very stylish and well-purposed pas de deux, with choreography by Max Penrose, that is one of the high spots of the evening.

~ Chris Lilly, Reviews Hub

The tour itself lasted just under three weeks from Cambridge to Doncaster and then on to London. It was such a whirlwind of energy and emotion, and I'm so grateful for the experience - performing in London for the first time too! I had so much fun revisiting the show with such a dedicated group of creatives, the songs will always hold a special place in my heart. One thing I certainly never expected from the reviewers who came to see the show was the praise I received for the dance aspects of Persephone - I have long thought that dance was my weakest of the performing arts trifecta but, perhaps with a little more work, I might be able to polish it up nicely and strengthen my skills as an all-round performer.

[Todd and Draycott's] heartfelt body language blends perfectly with the work of choreographer Max Penrose, whose beautiful routines are true highlights of the show.

~ Emma Curzon, CultureFly

As part of our preparation for the tour, we also spent some time recording an Original Cast Recording album in the studio at the University of Oxford Music Faculty. This way, the audience could leave the theatre and get their fill of the show from home! You can find the album on Spotify here.

Peter Todd’s Hades provides the perfect foil to Zeus, with a subversive depiction of Hades as a far more sensitive soul than traditional depictions would have us know. He is a hopeless romantic, fearful that his romance with Persephone is too good to be true, and crippled by a sense of powerlessness when forced into doing something he deeply regrets.

~ Alex Fice, Cambridge Edition

It was a privilege to return to a show that has formed such a large part of my early experience onstage; I have learned so much since signing onto Persephone two years ago. I am so grateful to the production team for all their work behind the scenes for making the tour a reality, and for director, Emma Hawkins, music director, Carrie Penn, and choreographer, Max Penrose, for their teaching, guidance, and support throughout. Fingers crossed this won't be my last UK touring production!