“AfterTalk” at Next Stage Arts blends theater, myth, and music in Putney

PUTNEY - Next Stage Arts presents “AfterTalk: A Play by Chard deNiord,” a new work of poetic theater that merges ancient mythology with contemporary artistry. Performances take place on Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, November 23, at 2 pm at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill. 
AfterTalk is a collaborative theatrical experience that unites some of Vermont’s most accomplished artists. The performance features Adrienne Major and David Zucker, with contributions from cellist Eugene Friesen, visual artist Eric Aho (projected paintings), choreographer Alison Mott, lighting and sound designer Francesca Bourgault, production manager Jenny Holan, and director Eric Bass.
Written by award-winning poet and former Vermont Poet Laureate Chard deNiord (2015–2019), AfterTalk is a dialogue between Inanna, Goddess of Fertility, and Dumuzi, God of Agriculture and date palms.
The play draws inspiration from an ancient Sumerian antiphonal poem, unearthed in 1947 in the ruins of Nippur. DeNiord reimagines this 7,000-year-old text within a modern theatrical framework, weaving together poetry, music, movement, and projected art to explore themes of love, power, and memory.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets go to nextstagearts.org.