Solomon and Sheba – telling and listening

I am performing ‘Solomon and Sheba’ at the Royal Derngate Theatre in Northampton –  23^rd Sept, and at Emerson College – 1^st October. It is very enjoyable to repeat a performance within a short space of time. The stories have a chance to sink into my body, to become freer, and I can play with them more. Each audience brings something new to the performance through their listening, and this re-makes the story.

Listening plays a significant part in creating a story. As the teller unravels the thread of the tale, the listener holds the thread with their attention. The stronger the listening, the more subtly  the teller can tease out the thread. The story is born in the listening.

Inside the listener another secret storytelling occurs. As the audience listen, they re-tell the story in their imagination, casting it with people and situations that are close to them, filling the story with their own emotional experiences and values. Each person hears a slightly different story as it resonates with their life. It is as if the listener is in two places at once. In the outer world of the performance, part of the collective wave of laughter, silence, exclamations, clapping. And in the inner world of the imagination, where, forgotten things are remembered, sorrows spoken of, and  wishes satisfied. The outer collective ear, and the inner personal ear, both feed the experience of listening and make it nourishing.

Come and be part of a family of listeners – help me tell ‘Solomon and Sheba’

SOLOMON AND SHEBA 
performed by Sally Pomme Clayton

Friday 23^rd September 2011  8.00pm
Royal & Derngate Theatre
Guildhall Road
Northampton, NN1 1DP
Tickets and info

Saturday 1^st  October 2011  7.30pm 
Emerson College
Forest Row
East Sussex, RH18 5JX
Tickets and info

For information on the content of  ‘Solomon and Sheba’ – look at my earlier post

UPDATE – I told a section of this story at The British Museum on 26 September for The British Museum Friends. Hugo – a ‘Friend’ – writes a blog and has written a lovely review my performance