Sly, subversive, spectacular - pioneering storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton evokes goddesses from across the globe. Her hilarious, mysterious, powerful stories put  goddesses in the centre of the narrative. Pomme entwines myths with memories, spells with songs, comedy with ceremony. She brings ancient myths to contemporary life with dynamic spoken-word, strange musical sounds, gesture and ritual. Meet: Vesta the fiery virgin; Cybele the mother goddess who fathered a child; Ishtar Goddess of Love and War who journeys to the Land of the Dead. Follow the goddess from creator to crone, virgin to warrior, from lust to destruction to rebirth. And everyone gets a message from the goddess's oracle to take home! The Mighty Goddess is X-rated and for adults only.

 

The stories are drawn from Pomme's latest book The Mighty Goddess (The History Press 2023). The book combines myth with art - 52 goddess myths are illustrated with fabulous papercuts by artist Sophie Herxheimer. This performance has appeared at: Tinners Moon Festival, Ashburton Arts; Words in Watchet Lit Fest; festivals in Sweden, Dresden, Leipzig; Capstone Theatre; Brigsteer Village Hall; Cheltenham Literature Festival; The British Museum; Guesthouse Storytellers Newhaven; Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival; East Anglian Storytelling Festival; Brockwell Barn; Watkins Bookshop; Chener Books; Rhythm Tree Festival.

 

Praise for Sally Pomme Clayton:

 

'Sally Pomme Clayton is a gifted storyteller who can bring  the wonder  of the most powerful stories from the past to life for audiences of any ages.' The Guardian
 

'Londonist has been lucky enough to see her in action: the awestruck faces, delighted giggles, eyes wide in wonder … and that’s the adults in the audience!'  The Londonist

'Virtuoso storyteller, Sally Pomme Clayton has that rare gift of being able to transport the listener to other worlds by completely inhabiting those worlds herself. Her telling goes through the skin, and settles deep in the marrow of the listening bones – a wondrous experience.' Venue Magazine

“Astounding, wild, invigorating storytelling’ Apples and Snakes

"We all need a goddess in our lives right now and this is one!" The British Museum
 

About the Artist: 

Sally Pomme Clayton (do call her Pomme!) is a pioneering storyteller and writer who has been creating performances, books and plays for more than 30 years, and has played a pivotal role in the storytelling revival. She creates magical work for theatres and museums, gardens and galleries, festivals and broadcast across the UK and beyond. Recently appearing at: Kings Place; Cambridge Junction; The Story Museum; The British Museum; Festivals in Sweden, Leipzig and Dresden; Cheltenham Literature Festival; The Museum of Comedy; Bloomsbury Festival; Exeter Lit Works; Royal Opera House; Chelsea Physic Garden; The British Library; Thames Festival. Her ground-breaking shows focus on powerful female protagonists, such as 'The Frog Princess Punked' a hybrid performance with girl punk band and live projections. She author of 16 books. Her latest  are: 'The Mighty Goddess' (The History Press 2023) her first book for adults; 'Violet and the Sea Giant' (Autin Dance 2022); 'The King with Dirty Feet' (Otter-Barry Books 2021/2018) winner of The Oxford Book Award best picture book 2019; 'The Phoenix of Persia' (Tiny Owl Books 2019) nominated for the Greenaway Award 2020 and the UKLA award. Find out more: www.sallypommeclayton.com