A fascinating new play was staged at St Mary’s church on the first day of the Arts Festival. Peter Preston’s Cathedral 10 Minutes, performed by the Rye Players, only lasted an hour but covered more than 800 years.
Few people knew what to expect. The story involved the wish of several people to build a cathedral at the top of a hill in “Fenchester”. Those in favour included the bishop played by Andrew Mayor, who was looking to create a momument to himself on Earth; a nobleman (John Breeds) who could do with absolution from his many earthly sins, and a visionary stonemason (David Bentley), who had heard tales of a new style of building higher and stronger from France and wanted to immortalise himself in the sky. The lord of the manor (Colin James) was the one standing in the way as he wanted to use the land the others had earmarked to move local villagers to, who were suffering from damp conditions and sickness.
Most of the play involved a lot of humour, particularly from Rachel Kimber (the stonemason’s fiancée/wife) and Sandi Bain (Lady Agatha, the lord of the manor’s wife). Their expressions were a delight. The audience were lulled into a false sense of amusement and calm, before the shocking and upsetting end piece.
The Rye Players have their origin in the late 19th century when the Rye Dramatic Society was established. This was an excellent play, well performed in the perfect setting of St Mary’s.
Image Credits: Seana Lanigan .