Moral maze of a play comes to the Loft in Leamington

It's a building that has dominated London's skyline for centuries '“ and a recent chaper in the history of St Paul's Cathedral is the subject of a play in Leamington this month.
Phil Reynolds as the Dean of St Pauls in TemplePhil Reynolds as the Dean of St Pauls in Temple
Phil Reynolds as the Dean of St Pauls in Temple

Its doors were always open to welcome worshippers and visitors from all over the world. But in 2011 it faced a challenge the like of which it had never previously faced. Occupy London, part of the worldwide Occupy pro-democracy movement, was prevented by police from protesting outside the London Stock Exchange, and instead set up their camp outside nearby St Paul’s. The cathedral was forced to close its doors to the public for the first time in its history.Steve Waters’ play Temple, which premiered to great acclaim at the Donmar Warehouse in 2015, is a fictional account of what happened behind the scenes as this real-life drama played out. It shows the turmoil the events caused to everyone swept up in it – the City, the lawyers, the clergy and the protestors. The play is coming to the Loft Theatre from Saturday March 11 to Saturday March 18 – and director Sue Moore believes the audience will find much to reflect upon.She said: “I am always drawn to dramatisations of real events, and also love a play where everyone has a say and no one opinion is paraded, leaving the audience to make up its own mind. “Temple encompasses both. It is a play about power, leadership and moral integrity. In turn it is riveting, funny and affecting. All this, plus singing from choristers and ecclesiastical frocks – who could ask for more!’ Temple runs at the theatre, in Victoria Colonnade, each evening at 8pm except Monday and at 5pm on Sunday. Each performance runs for 90 minutes without an interval.Call 800360 or visit www.loft-theatre.co.uk to book or for more information.

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