Unique Speech Ensemble Performance of the New Testament book of Revelation by John.
At the time of the 40th anniversary of the Speech School, based at Peredur Centre for the Arts in East Grinstead, Sussex, a group of speech artists trained in Rudolf Steiner’s Art of Speech decided to create a performance as an ensemble that would promote this disappearing art and extend its life. Their choice fell on The Book of Revelation, the last book in the New Testament, whose relevance has been growing over the last twenty years or more, however difficult to understand the content may be. The images that characterise the journey through the book, from the four riders of the Apocalypse to the angels carrying the vials of the wrath of God, ready to empty them over the earth, are what make the work extraordinary.
Because of the challenges the material has presented, the work to develop this text into a performance has been ongoing intermittently for some years and has now ultimately led to a performance that can stand in the world at large, so much so that we are currently investigating creating a recording of the performance. Those creating the live performance are Dan Skinner, Duncan Mackintosh and Sarah Kane, all experienced performers and established speech artists. Christopher Marcus, an equally experienced director of mystery dramas, has directed the performance and recently Andrew Thompson has joined the ensemble as singer and musician.
The performance, combining singing and speaking is now ready to share with audiences, so the Speech Ensemble has now embarked on a small tour that started in Buckfastleigh, Devon, then goes on to Edinburgh in January, followed by performances and workshops in Stourbridge and Stroud in 2026. While we may still perform in London at the Hammersmith Christian Community later in the year, we are now planning to perform in other churches all over the country in 2026 and beyond.
We received funding for the project so would like to thank:
The Anthroposophical Society of Great Britain (ASinGB)
The Rudolf Steiner Association
The Godparents’ Association (GATF)
Hermes Trust
Dates so far...
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