DAMASCUS, PA — Farm Arts Collective's new performance, “Scattered Seeds of Troy,” takes inspiration from Euripides "The Trojan Women" and reimagines Hecuba, Andromache, Cassandra and Helen through a contemporary ecological lens. “How does the act of bringing seeds catapult change and deliver agency to four women ravaged by war? How does one find hope in a hopeless situation?” the collective asks.

Audiences can get a look on Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 15 at 3 p.m.  at the agri-cultural center on Willow Wisp Organic Farm.

At the opening of the play, four women—Costanza Bugiani (Cassandra), Hilary Dennis (Helen), Ginny Hack (Andromache) and Tannis Kowalchuk (Hecuba)—enter, dragging suitcases. They pull, from one of the suitcases, a red cloth that covers the ground, “symbolizing the blood- soaked land upon which the performance takes place.”

The women are “stripped of their autonomy, social position, family and home.”

As the play progresses, the actresses slowly depart from the classic text and structure and they begin to share dreams, wine and memories. They’re visited by a goddess who delivers a message: “If you want to create a new world, then you must do it seed by seed, person by person, until the world is embraced in a circle of resurgent life, and a circle of resurgent love.” (The quote is by Vandana Shiva, contemporary Indian eco-activist).

“Scattered Seeds of Troy” explores how the idea of carrying seeds in a hostile, authoritarian, patriarchal and militarized world provides healing and empowerment, the collective said. 

The play is directed by Tannis Kowalchuk; music and sound design are by Char McCutcheon; costumes are by Kar Flood; lighting design is by Calvin Anderson; the production assistant is Debra Thomas; technical assistance is by Grese Productions; and the classics and text consultant is Thomas Bartscherer. 

The poster is by Monique Milleson, and the photos are by Khanii Kol Studio.

The translations and adaptations used were by Anne Carson, Sartre and Edith Hamilton. 

Farm Arts Collective and the Agri-Cultural Center are located at 38 Hickory Lane.  Learn more and purchase tickets at www.farmartscollective.org.