Damien
by Aldyth Morris
The story of Father Damien de Veuster, the leper priest of Molokai and patron saint of outcasts.
In this passionate, one man show, actor Daniel Finlay channels the powerful stories of the challenges that Damien experienced while serving the community of exiled lepers on a remote Hawaiian island in the 1870’s and 80’s, until his own life was taken by the affliction on April 15, 1889.
He was born Joseph and received the name Damien in religious life. In 1864, he was sent to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was ordained. For the next nine years he worked in missions on the big island, Hawaii. In 1873, he went to the leper colony on Molokai, after volunteering for the assignment. Damien cared for lepers of all ages, but was particularly concerned about the children segregated in the colony. He announced he was a leper in 1885 and continued to build hospitals, clinics, and churches, and some six hundred coffins. He died on April 15, on Molokai.... Pope John Paul II declared him beatified on June 4, 1995. Father Damien was canonised in a ceremony at the Vatican on October 11, 2009.
"In our own time as millions around the world suffer from disease, especially the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, we should draw on the example of Fr. Damien's resolve in answering the urgent call to heal and care for the sick."
President Barack Obama
Related upcoming events
-
20/06/2024 7:30 pm - 22/06/2024 8:30 pm“Because whatever has happened to humanity, whatever is currently happening, it is happening to us all. No matter how far off the screams of pain and terror, we live in one world.” (Alice Walker) //
Premiere of an experimental play that takes for its structure the four parts of the Geneva Convention – Wounded & Sick / Maritime / Prisoners of War / Civilians – to tell an ancient/contemporary story of the random depravity of war and its existential / psychological impacts for those who are involved and those who are not.The work grows out of an international collaboration between local writer/theatremaker Mark C. Hewitt and renowned Norwegian percussionist/composer Thomas Strønen. Stylised and kaleidoscopic, the fractured evolving narrative is performed by 4 actresses from 4 different countries, variously delivering lines in English, French, Polish and a smattering of other languages.
• “BRILLIANT. Thought-provoking, raw, provocative, multi-dimensional; use of music, space, silence ... the brave lack of ‘closure’ or conventional narrative.” (Audience feedback)
• “Loved the performance, the set and how it changed, likewise the music ...” (Audience feedback)
• “A really powerful provocative piece.” (Audience feedback)
Written & directed by Mark C. Hewitt. Performed by Marta Carvalho, Leann O'Kasi, Melissa Sirol, Maria Ziołkowska. Music by Thomas Strønen, performed and recorded by Time Is A Blind Guide. Technical design by Paul Phillips. Videography by Matt Parsons. Movement consultant: Miriam King.
-
27/06/2024 7:30 pm - 29/06/2024 9:30 pmRoad
'Road' explores the lives of a small, close-knit community living in the eponymous 'road' in a working class, Lancashire town during the era of the 1980's Thatcher government - a time of high unemployment, civil unrest and deprivation.The action takes place over the course of one evening as the residents of the road prepare to go out to the pub and then on home afterwards. Despite its explicit nature, it was considered extremely effective in portraying the desperation of people's lives at this time, as well as containing a great deal of gritty, Northern humour.A passionate, poetic and positive portrayal of working class life wherein in the audience is invited to follow the narrator, Scullery, as he travels along the road, visiting the different homes of the characters and getting messy in the local pub.'Road' is the first play written by Jim Cartwright, and was first produced in 1986. The play was initially performed at the Royal Court Theatre "Upstairs", with Edward Tudor-Pole as Scullery, moving "Downstairs" in 1987 with Ian Drury as the narrator. It was later made for television by renowned director Alan Clarke and starred many young actors who later became well-known including Jane Horrocks, David Thewlis, Moya Brady and Lesley Sharp. The play has won numerous awards including the George Devine Award, Plays and Players Award and the Samuel Beckett Award.