Solomon and Sheba – at Lancaster Litfest

Performance at Lancaster Litfest on 23 June 2011

Provoking, seductive, and a virgin,

the Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon to test his wisdom.

riddles and tricks, desire and foolishness ensue,

as they unravel each others’ histories.

Solomon and Sheba appear briefly in the Bible, yet countless apocryphal tales  exist about them in Hebrew, Christian, and Islamic traditions. These tales have crossed religious, linguistic, and cultural borders. The stories tell how Solomon seduces Sheba, then looses his wisdom, and his throne. Sheba’s ancestry is traced back to Adam’s first wife, Lilith, and forward to Mother Goose. And Solomon finally discovers the secret of Sheba’s virginity.

I have been snipping, clipping, and embroidering stories about these powerful archetypes for over 20 years. The performance has had many incarnations, and is constantly being re-made as I discover more material which sheds new light on the stories. Some of the material has been developed through chats with audience members at the end of a show. They have told me stories about places that appear in the stories:, given me snippets of archaeology and history, and even sent me photos. Please come along and do the same!

The latest incarnation of the performance is accompanied by an ancient Ethiopian story scroll that was given to me by a family friend. I also use camel bells, tea glasses, talking birds, and a bowl of seeds! The performance mixes sacred with profane, raunchy with poetic, and the bible with folktale – and is for adults only!

SOLOMON AND SHEBA

performed by Sally Pomme Clayton

Thursday 23rd June

7.30pm

The Storey, Lancaster

Tickets from the Litfest Box Office on 01524 582394 or  book online