Two new plays that break the mould
Edinburgh Fringe Christian Theatre Two new Christian plays by Richard Hasnip of Regent’s Theological College, premiered at Edinburgh Fringe last week, are strongly commended for staging in churches for outreach programmes and at Christian arts festivals.
Saltmine Theatre’s ground-breaking drama Darkness Falls enthrallingly reimagines John’s Gospel told, even created, in a Roman labour camp on the isle of Patmos [Revelation 1:9]. Hasnip equates Gospeller John with the writer of Revelation - not the view of all Biblical scholars yet certainly a convincing theatrical device central to this compelling drama. Condemned for the sedition of preaching Jesus, John breaks rocks with killers and thieves amid a bleak Gulag-style prison with blazing lights and harsh loudspeakers.
Grabbed by John’s amazing Jesus stories and sheer enthusiasm, his fellow prisoners play out - indeed become - Gospel characters in a cleverly unfolding play-within-a-play.
Hard man Titus [Freddy Goymer] becomes rough-hewn Peter, slow-witted Lucius [Ben Kessell] a holy fool dispensing hope amid despair, Timon the Greek [Caleb Mitchell] twists into traitorous Judas, Lavinia of questionable past [Miriam Bukeridge] transforms to the Marys. Gospel episodes - wedding at Cana, a blind man healed, a living Lazarus bursting forth and puzzling talk of Bread of Life - culminate in a surprising yet biblically authentic denouement.
Caroline Wilkes’ tight direction ensures this layered and demanding work never falters; Buchan Lennon compels attention as a Glaswegianaccent John bursting to tell his Good News; the other cast give raw-energy portrayal of prisoners desperate for hope amid a grim fate; often very moving and sometimes funny, this play re-expresses the essence of John’s Gospel with consistently engaging dramatic force.
A very different but no less compelling re-imagining of a spiritual classic is Searchlight Theatre and Regent’s Theological College’s version of The Pilgrim’s Progress in World War Two setting. Captain Christian bids wife Grace farewell to lead a secret mission into Occupied France - and starts his faith-journey towards the Heavenly City.
Fellow pilgrim Padre Fred points to a hilltop cross where he discards an ultraheavy backpack, but fearful encounters with Nazi-uniformed Apollyon find his faith tested by evil powers - and even sharpshooter Wise questions his own lack of it. Escaping Vanity Fair’s pleasure-trap only to be tested again in Gestapo Despair’s Doubting Castle, the ever-resourceful pair make their final assault to attain the Heavenly City.
Inspired by John Bunyan’s faith saga and following its themes, Hasnip’s text also re-interprets for theatrical effect as wartime thriller blends with spiritual classic. Ollie Ward finely portrays the self-questioning but doggedly committed Christian always spurred on by Padre Fred’s ever-forthright encouragement.
Commandingly expressed by David Robinson, Padre’s rock-like faith rarely falters - but his ready recourse to quoting salvation texts can seem overdone. With Regent’s graduates promising in the supporting roles, and director Michael Taylor’s 1940s-pop soundtrack nicely atmospheric, this avowedly evangelistic production offers a rewarding theatre experience with powerful challenge ideal for local missions.
Pre-eminent event at Edinburgh International Festival was the highly memorable 887 - Ex Machina, dramatic tour-de-force written and performed by global theatrical multi-genius Robert Lepage of Canada. On a constantly changing highly authentic set, he recounts in English and French for two hours his growing-up in Quebec, weaving personal recall with flashback of its fractured late 20th Century history, individual memories and collective awareness, in spellbinding fashion. As one-person’s in-depth exploration of the nature of memory, identity and truth-telling, Robert Lepage’s theatrework was uniquely brilliant - look out for non-Edinburgh performances!
Darkness Falls and Pilgrim’s Progress were respectively performed at Palmerston Place Church and Edinburgh Elim during Festival Fringe. Both plays are on 2016 UK tour in and available for Christian venue bookings [Saltmine: www.saltminetrust.org.uk / 01384-454800; Searchlight: www.searchlighttheatre.org].
Brian Cooper