Workshops for new musical SAPPHO: THE POETESS to play at The Other Palace
A musical workshop of SAPPHO: The Poetess, written and performed by Hayley Canham, will play at London’s The Other Palace from 29 October-1 November, it has been announced.
SAPPHO: The Poetess is the untold story of Sappho — poetess, queer icon, and history’s first great songwriter. Written and performed by Hayley Canham (The Three Musketeers: Trois, Barn Theatre) and directed by Hannah Hauer-King, this musical memoir is based on Sappho (c. 630–570 BCE), a celebrated lyric poet from the Greek island of Lesbos who in contrast to Homer’s stories of heroes and gods, wrote about the intimate world of human feelings—love, longing, friendship, and beauty. Her verses were originally performed with music, creating a deeply personal style that inspired later generations. Although most of her work survived only in fragments, her influence remains: Plato called her “the Tenth Muse,” and her name and homeland gave rise to the modern words sapphic and lesbian. Today, Sappho is remembered both as a groundbreaking poet and as a symbol of female creativity and same-sex love in the ancient world.
Hayley Canham said: “I first read Sappho's poetry when I was 15 - there's not much of it after all - and have been in love with her ever since. While writing this show I've tried to stay faithful to what we know about her and I can’t wait to bring this remarkable woman back to life on stage.”
Hannah Hauer-King said: “When I first met Hayley, I already knew of Sappho as a lesbian icon of sorts, but what I could never have predicted is how powerfully she could be brought to life through music and theatre. Hayley's ingenious conception of her as a rockstar and lyricist makes this a story audiences won't forget. A show not only for existing lovers of Sappho and music enthusiasts, but also anyone who knows what it's like to dare to be different.”
DEM producers Ramin Sabi and Emily Lunnon said: “Less than one year ago on the judging panel for BEAM, we witnessed Hayley Canham pitch 10 minutes of musical theatre that instantly blew us away. Uniquely memorable songs with a performance so captivating and ideas so clear, we’ve never taken on a project so quickly. We’re proud to develop and produce new British musicals, and under Hannah Hauer-King’s exceptional direction, we’re confident audiences of this first workshop production of Sappho will be part of a completely new step in the artform.”
