Punchdrunk reopen the gates of Troy for Persephone, a film of The Burnt City
by Best of Theatre Staff on Tuesday 4 August 2026, 12:54 pm in Upcoming and New Shows
Three years after closing its gates, Punchdrunk will reopen the set of The Burnt City in Woolwich this September for a one-weekend-only screening of Persephone, a new film of the hit immersive production.
Groundbreaking immersive theatre company Punchdrunk will reopen the gates to the set of its hit production The Burnt City at its Woolwich home this September, for a one-weekend-only screening of Persephone — a film of the original production as it was performed.
Marking three years since the production’s final performance, the company will reawaken the immersive environment of Troy for the screenings. The film invites audiences to return to the labyrinth through Persephone’s eyes as she journeys between Troy and Mycenae, with every encounter revealing another thread of The Burnt City and binding together a story of memory, longing and fate.
The film opens with a red carpet premiere screening on Friday 25 September, where audiences can experience the original production on screen for the very first time, followed by an exclusive post-screening conversation with the creative team behind The Burnt City. Three further screenings follow on Saturday 26 September at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, and Sunday 27 September at 7.30pm.
The screenings take place at The Carriageworks, Royal Arsenal, with a running time of 120 minutes including a 20-minute interval. General admission and VIP tickets are on sale now at punchdrunk.com, with very limited capacity. Premiere tickets are priced at £90 (VIP), £75 (standard) and £50 (concession), including a red carpet arrival and a complimentary welcome drink; tickets for the remaining screenings are £60 (VIP), £45 (standard) and £35 (concession).
VIP tickets include priority entry with early access to The Prop Store, a VIP host on arrival, access to the VIP lounge before and after the screening, two complimentary signature cocktails, priority seating, a gift bag and priority access to book Punchdrunk’s next London production before general sale.
Persephone is directed by Derrick Belcham and Felix Barrett and produced by Lauren Storr and Sophie Hewlett, with cinematography by Derrick Belcham. Lily Jo Ockwell appears as Persephone and Sam Booth as Hades.
The Burnt City was directed by Felix Barrett and Maxine Doyle, with design by Felix Barrett, Livi Vaughan and Beatrice Minns, choreography by Maxine Doyle, sound design by Stephen Dobbie, lighting by F9, Ben Donoghue and Felix Barrett, costume design by David Israel Reynoso and audience experience curated by Colin Nightingale.
Founded in 2000 by Felix Barrett, Punchdrunk has pioneered a form of theatre that places the audience at the heart of the action, with record-breaking productions in the UK, US and China including Sleep No More, The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable and Viola’s Room. The company’s 2022 London production of The Burnt City became its longest-running show in its home city, coinciding with the opening of its first permanent venue in Woolwich.