Salt and sails have shaped Scotland for as long as people have lived along its coasts. The Sailmaker’s Palm blends theatre, music, dance and storytelling to explore this enduring relationship between land, sea and air.
At its heart is a fantasy tale of two young people: one who makes salt and the other who sews sails. Both crafts are acts of quiet alchemy. Salt is drawn from the sea through condensation and purification, transformed into something essential for life and preservation. Sailmaking requires an intimate understanding of the wind – how to shape it, catch it, and use it to travel, trade and connect distant communities.
Through their story, the piece reflects on Scotland’s coastal heritage and contrasts slower, craft-based ways of living with the fast-paced, technology-driven world we inhabit today. The Sailmaker’s Palm is both celebration and provocation: how might traditional knowledge guide future generations toward more sustainable ways of living?
“I was absolutely mesmerised and enthralled by Oceanallover’s performance of The Sailmaker’s Palm at Kelburn… perhaps the highlight for me”
Audience Member