Sophie Hunter: a defender of the magnificent salt marshes

Salt marshes, those desolate wastelands of old novels, are often overlooked 📈 and undervalued. However, theatre-maker and opera director Sophie Hunter aims to change this perception with her new performance installation, Salt 📈 of the Earth. This installation highlights the importance of salt marshes as crucial carbon-sequestering coastal guardians that provide natural flood 📈 defenses and biodiverse habitats.

The performance, 📈 which may tour globally, will also fund a salt marsh PhD at the University of Padova.

The story of Lot's 📈 wife reimagined

In Salt of the Earth, Hunter reimagines the story of Lot's wife, giving her a name, Erith, and 📈 new agency. Erith chooses to look, stay, and pay attention to the marshes she loves, rather than forgetting and moving 📈 on. This act of potential sacrifice is at the heart of the installation.

The 45-minute installation, which will premiere 📈 in a former salt warehouse in Venice, features a monologue by Lot's wife, an installation film, and a choral climax. 📈 It asks the audience to consider the importance of bearing witness and paying attention to the natural world.

Personal connection 📈 and environmental activism

Hunter's attention to salt marshes is rooted in her childhood holidays on the estuaries of the Isle 📈 of Wight. When she visited Venice, she was drawn to the vast lagoon surrounding the ancient city and its salt 📈 marshes. With more than three-quarters of the salt marsh already destroyed due to development, Hunter aims to raise awareness and 📈 inspire action through her artistic interventions.

The performance is part of a larger partnership with local activists in Venice, 📈 including We Are Here Venice and The Tidal Garden. It will also fund a salt marsh PhD at the University 📈 of Padova. Hunter plans to take the installation on a global tour to connect with other local charities and communities 📈 close to salt marshes around the world.

Female scientists and environmentalists 📈 as inspirations

Hunter finds inspiration in female scientists and environmentalists, such as Rachel Carson, Sylvia Earle, and South American Indigenous 📈 activist Nemonte Nenquimo. Their work and activism highlight the importance of the natural world and the need for protection and 📈 preservation.

Ultimately, Hunter aims to create works that help people rediscover the natural world, fostering a sense of wonder 📈 and connection that lasts a lifetime.