Brides and prejudice

I sat in on a rehearsal of my new play, Stabat Mater, on Sunday. The title has its fans and detractors but as the play concerns mothers and daughters, both unhappy with each other 'Stabat Mater Dolorosa', meaning 'there stood the sorrowful mother' seemed apt. The original title was Bride and Prejudice but it seems Bollywood got to that one first. What struck me as I watched the rehearsal, apart from how well they were getting to grips with the play, was how suddenly topical it is. The two young women in the play are in love, and want to commit to each other. Their mothers are, for different reasons, not likely to approve.

The play deals with the various relationships and how they tackle different world views, homophobia and racism. Sounds heavy, but it's funny and moving too. And topical. The attitude of the church to same sex marriages is in all the news bulletins at the moment, and this is largely mirrored in the play. I'd no idea this would be in the headlines when I wrote it and I think I've been rather gentle on the church in the play. In real life there appears to be not only prejudice and opposition but also intemperate and abusive language, not to mention scare mongering. The one word which seems to sum up the churches attitude, especially the Catholic hierarchy in the UK, is 'unChristian'.  Sections of the Anglican Church are no better. Well, for the record, I want no part of it. I am a Christian and I support the proposals on gay marriage. I'm a married man, and don't see the changes as in any way threatening to the institution of marriage, rather the reverse. I do see the attitude of church leaders as counterproductive. We preach love, but nobody believes us. I wonder why.  Pity I couldn't have stuck with the first title though.

Colour Beginnings - a moving combination

One of the most moving and original jazz gigs I can recall last night at the Watermill Jazz Club. Tim Whitehead was playing some of the music that came out of his spell as artist in residence at the Tate, music inspired by the work of Turner - landscapes, seascapes, skies. Tim talked us through the process, and some of the background to the paintings and sketches he'd chosen, and played with the paintings on the screen in front of us. It was one of those rare moments when two art forms combine to create something that takes the breath away.

I've seen Tim play before and love his approach to the sax, and the quality of the musicians he gathers round him, but this was something else. I often come away from a jazz gig fired up to play more myself and wanting to emulate, however inadequately, but this time I also came away wanting to spend more time with the visual arts as well, not least the works of Turner. And I'm sure my copy of the cd ('Colour Beginnings' ) will get well worn.

I've just finished my own combination of media in the form of a one woman show destined for Edinburgh this summer which deals with a major film star and uses music and images as well as words, a departure for me. Now waiting for the approval, or otherwise, of the star of the show - hope she's moved by it!