Sappho’s Garden: A Poetic Call to Action for a Burning World

Playwrights Domnica Radulescu and Carol Campbell have collaborated on a new play, Sappho’s Garden, a theatrical work that addresses the pressing issues of environmental destruction and violence against women. The play, which draws inspiration from the fragmented poetry of Sappho, a Greek poet from 2,600 years ago, seeks to provide a message of hope and healing in a world consumed by turmoil.

Radulescu and Campbell, both academics and longtime collaborators, were inspired to write the play after finding solace in Sappho’s verses. Radulescu describes Sappho’s work as “a stream of cool crystal water in a scorching desert.” They believe that Sappho’s ability to give voice to the totality of the female experience — encompassing love, nature, divinity, and both heterosexual and lesbian desire — resonates deeply with the struggles of today.

The Power of Sappho’s Words
Campbell highlights that much of Sappho’s work is in fragments, with only one complete poem remaining. The play uses these fragments to give characters hope and to create a layered, multi-dimensional experience. Stanzas of Sappho’s poetry are woven into the play and are delivered in an amplified, almost otherworldly manner.

The playwrights are also quick to address the stereotype that Sappho’s work is…