THE life of his aunt,
who as a Catholic nun ran a women's refuge centre in New York, has
provided the inspiration for the debut drama by up and coming
playwright Brian Mullin.
We Wait In Joyful Hope
is a frank and humorous portrayal of modern feminism, friendship and
an extraordinary woman, who just so happens to be a nun.
Sister Bernie D’Amato,
now in the twilight of her life, has, for the past 40 years been
running a women’s refuge centre in a New Jersey slum.
Helping the poor and
homeless, she’s won battles with priests, police and even gang
leaders.
But now she’s facing
her biggest threat yet - that of property developers who are buying
up the neighbourhood.
It is up to Sister
Bernie to save the centre from closure in order to continue the work
of her mission.
Staged at Theatre503
from next week for a four-week run, Brian's exploration of religion
and capitalism in contemporary America was chosen from the Battersea
theatre’s Writer in Residence programme.
For Brian, an American
born playwright who studied at Goldsmiths and is now based in Brixton
it is a dream come true.
“If it wasn’t for
my aunt I wouldn’t have written the play, but it is all thanks to
Theatre503 that it’s come to the stage,” he tells me.
“I was so lucky to
have been chosen as one of five writers for their new writer's
programme, but for it to be my play that was chosen to be staged is
amazing.
“The team here is
fantastic, really supportive and this programme enables new writers
to get a platform for their work. It also gives them a chance to work
with professional actors, directors, producers and stage a
full-length play - something that is invaluable and really exciting."
He acknowledges that a
play about a nun might raise a few eyebrows but he stresses there is
plenty in it which will resonate with audiences.
“There are so many
themes and issues that people will recognise,” he says. “I live
in Brixton and the area is constantly changing - is it regeneration,
gentrification and is it good or bad.
"These are issues
people in South London are dealing with and ones that Bernie faces in
her life too - how developers come in and change an area and the harm
it can potentially do. She tries to stop it because she recognises
the value of her refuge to the community."
Although he wanted to
pay tribute to his aunt and others like her, Brian was also keen to
show nuns in a different light and create a central role for an older
actress.
"I wanted to pay
tribute to the strong women who hold communities together and, in my
experience, few women are stronger, more dedicated – and more
unsung – than nuns," he says.
"For so long there
has been a resistance to portraying nuns as as full human beings or
even feminists.
"A lot of people,
when they hear about nuns think of the comic like Sister Act or the
sentimental like Sound Of Music. But actually nuns are extraordinary
women who do amazing things for those who are the forgotten ones in
society.
"Sister Bernie is
inspired by my aunt but is an amalgamation of various nuns I met and
spoke to while I was in the process of writing the play," he
ads.
"She is not
conventional - she wears a T shirt, smokes and deals with gang
leaders. She's also tough, rebellious and, sometimes, hard to deal
with, but is inspiring.
"And, even as
everything around her seems to be changing, she keeps fighting for
the causes she believes in."
And he says that as
well it being an emotional journey, the audience will find much
humour in the piece.
"I hope people can
relate to Bernie and her spirit," he says. "It's very funny
and an uplifting story, but it is also quite political because it
asks who really stands up for our community - and in this case it's a
70-year-old nun."
We Wait In Joyful Hope
is on at Theatre503, The Latchmere, Battersea Park Road between
Tuesday, May 17 and Saturday June 11. Visit www.theatre503.com for
full listings.
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