Diana Small

Ecclesia Diana Small

Ecclesia gives new meaning to the process of adapting sacred text for the stage. By combining elements of Catholic liturgy with poetic narration and wildly innovative characterizations of familiar Biblical characters, this play provides a new way for theatre practitioners everywhere to reengage with a familiar story. Ecclesia imagines the Church as a mysteriously beautiful Bride who accepts Jesus' proposal at Pentecost. In His absence over the following years, the Bride's unfaithfulness to the unseen schemer culminates in the apocalyptic return of Christ. Visions of prophets and ceremonial readings from clergymen punctuate the story of the Bride and ask pointed, difficult questions of the modern Church. A must read for a generation of playwrights interested in the intersection of faith and artistic practice.