(White Light) Doubt

This was the first production to take place in ‘The GADA Studio’ and we opened the doors with a hurricane of a play called ‘Doubt’ by John Patrick Shanley. I was 32 years old when I directed my first play by him called ‘Savage in Limbo’. About a group of young people in a bar, who during the course of the evening reveal their secrets, fears and angst of being alive during the 1980’s. Many years later in my 60s I came across the movie made from Shanley’s play ‘Doubt’. Set in a Roman Catholic elementary school. The film took my breath away with its lean, passionate performances by Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Viola Davis. Set in 1964, a time of great social change inside and outside the church. Two people’s beliefs crash, Sister Aloysius, the iron willed, dragon of a headmistress of St. Nicholas and Father Flynn. A young, idealistic man of the cloth who shows kindness to the students. What follows is an inquiry into how we arrive at the ‘Truth’. A gripping story full of twists and turns. As an accusation of abuse is made concerning a young black student and Father Flynn. Leaving us wondering, who can we believe? I had to take a crack at directing this delicate puzzle box of a play. Where ‘Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty’.

The poster was based on a well known photo taken in Gibraltar by Lasse Persson.