Francis

This was an intriguing production, very different to last year's one at Wellington. The Abbadia Celestina provided an authentic background, with its partly ruined, partly restored buildings, rendering most of the scenery and props of the original unnecessary, and the audience promenaded from scene to scene, almost becoming part of the 'crowd' as actors moved to their positions.

The play itself had been extensively rewritten by Philip Crawford and Jane Lunnon, with the blessing of Julian Mitchell, whose text we had followed fairly closely the year before.  Rewritten partly because of the nature of the performance, and also to bring out the nature of St Francis in a forthright manner.

I enjoyed the play - although enjoyment is perhaps the wrong term for something which pointed out the tragedy of Francis' death and the politics of the Church of the time.   This wasn't 'speaking to the birds and animals'.  It was profoundly moving.

We were delighted to see the Master and his wife and Julian Mitchell himself at the Tuesday performance, and members of the local community and Franciscan monks on other nights.

It's always unfair to select one person for praise but I have to pay my respects to Oliver Tilney - firstly because of what he made of the role of Francis, but also because of the sheer hard work involved in rehearsing, performing, and then performing again, on film, under a hot Umbrian sun.

Plaudits also to Philip Crawford for having the imagination to see the production in its setting near Assisi and the strength of will to see it through when it seemed it might not come off.  Philip, and all the cast and crew:  what you did was unique, amazing - and you thoroughly deserve the holidays to follow.