Categories: randomness, future-plans, uncertainty, mental-health-issues, art
Tags: Dyspraxia, UAF, EDL, Protests, Theatre, Disability, PhD, Christianity
Date: 02 June 2010 16:16:45
The other day, TractorGirl and I went to see the Durham Mystery Plays, a series of modern attempts to carry on the tradition from the 15th Century of using drama to re-inact stories from the Bible. The most famous series of these is probably the York Mystery Plays, though they have also been revived in Chester. Most of the cast were sixth-formers who did a really great job.
The first play, 'The Fall of Lucifer' was at the Gala theatre and based on Britain's Got Talent; the second was at the Cathedral, 'The Fall of Creation' and was an operatic piece with lots of schoolchildren running about, and the remainder, four based on the Old Testament and four on the New, were down at the Sands, a sort of park about five minute's stroll from said Cathedral.
I think the best and most thought-provoking was 'God's Day Off', imagining what God found when he couldn't resist taking a look at the Creation on the seventh day. It shows God not being too impressed with the consequences of giving human beings free will and perhaps regretting his decision. It got me thinking about the vulnerability of God and the risk of creation. Probably the most fun play was 'Noah and the Fludd', where they made a 'nark' to save them and God was a feisty North East women. I don't think the play in the Cathedral really worked; it wasn't possible to hear what was being said most of the time and it all felt a bit silly. I do wonder what the young people re-telling the Abraham and Isaac story made of it...
The day after that, we went on an anti-fascist demonstration with United Against Fascism. I'll upload photos when I get around to it. The English Defence League came to protest in Newcastle and even on match days I've never seen as many police. According to UAF, we outnumbered them; the Police seemed to suggest the numbers were about even. Either way, I think it was really important to stand up against fascism in whatever forms it takes these days. The scary thing though was listening to a bunch of young lads on the train home talking about it all as if it was all great fun. Quite how young some of the lads being groomed are is frightening, as is the level of violence that was casually talked about. One wonders if they really have idea of what they're getting mixed up in and the consequence for those affected by them.
On a lighter note, my search for a job continues. I have a phone interview to arrange at some point and also an assessment for what they (the uni disability people) think is dyspraxia, which will make my life a lot easier when it comes to psychometric testing. On top of that, I am trying to refresh my memory of my PhD thesis ready for Tuesday's viva. Apart from a wobble yesterday, I think all of that is going well. But, now for once the sun is out, so I'm going to enjoy working outdoors for a while. TTFN :)