Salomé

Salomé

National Theatre – 2017

Yaël Farber rewrote the biblical tale, placing the title character at the centre of a revolution against the Romans occupying her people’s land.

In the play, sand and water play a key part in Salomé’s story: John the Baptist gives her life a new purpose by baptising her, but she dies a martyr, entombed under the city. A first production had been put on in Washington, and I was inspired by set designer Susan Hilferty use of sand walls and by Caravagio paintings of martyrdom, to place the actress at the centre of a cascade of sand (see my references on the right).

Concept and art direction by Émilie Chen
Photography by Sebastian Nevols