Bernard Field’s new play Shroud, unravels the threads of what we do know to be indisputable, to fashion a powerful drama of passion, pain, tragedy and redemption that promises to sit long in the mind.
Centred round the inner workings of the Catholic Church in light of their appalling crimes against children, Shroud raises many unspoken questions and delves into some uncomfortable truths.
Shroud is at The Playground Theatre 21st February – 5th March 2022. Tickets are on sale here.
Your play, Shroud, is coming to The Playground Theatre, what can you tell us about it?
Shroud tells the story of a priest who wants to come clean about his deviant behaviour and the response from the church authorities to this “crisis” in its midst. The main characters are two priests and a bishop plus a “minder” who does the bishop’s bidding.
In the story they all have their own personal motivations which revolve around attitudes prevalent in the church and the conflicting priorities given to the welfare of children and how this rubs up against the interests of the church against the backdrop of civil society.
What inspired you to write the play?
I always felt that there was something deeply suspicious about the church’s attitude and responses to the child abusers in its midst. They say publicly they abhor abuse but their actions point in another direction. That contradiction and what might lie behind it fuelled my interest in writing the play.
Were you shocked by some of the things you discovered while writing Shroud?
Well it’s a shocking subject from first to last. But what “shocked” me most in writing it was the discovery that corruption and evil can flourish unchecked more readily within a world that was set up in the first place with the express purpose of doing good and spreading the eternal truth.
You’re also appearing in the play, tell us a little about your role?
He’s an example I suppose of a deviant criminal at heart who wears the accepted public mask of goodness in the world. Whether he has any redeeming features or is in some way a victim himself I’m still not sure.
What are you looking forward to about working with this cast and creative team?
They’re great to creatively work with. And they’re brave and committed to making work in the theatre that engages its audience through stimulating enquiry and the understanding that there are no easy answers to real questions that have to be asked.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking tickets to see Shroud?
Don’t be put off by the subject matter. It’s a piece of theatre first and foremost and it’s job is to draw the audience in to a story and produce a cathartic experience. That’s our aim and we’ll try our very damnedest.
Shroud’ runs at The Playground Theatre from 21 Feb-5 Mar. See the venue website here for more info and to book.
