The Royal Shakespeare Company and Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 are to create a new theatre experience, Faith, which will take place over 24 hours in locations across Coventry and online.
Faith, directed by the RSC’s deputy artistic director Erica Whyman, will invite audiences both in person and virtually to immerse themselves in the diverse faiths of Coventry through theatre, music, art installations, rituals, discussion and dialogue.
Whyman said, “Faith is a Coventry-wide invitation to celebrate this remarkable multi-faith city. We will inspire conversations about what we each believe and what keeps us going in tough times.
“Chinonyerem Odimba and Chris O’Connell have written funny, insightful and moving plays about how faith really operates in our daily lives which will be performed with the city as our stage and our backdrop, leading to a powerful ceremony of light in which everyone can take part.
“Faith has been made in close collaboration with representatives of the faith communities of Coventry and it has been a privilege to witness close up the spirit of solidarity and optimism that continues to thrive in this city.”
Faith includes four promenade performances: The Messenger and The Return by Chris O’Connell, artistic director and writer for Coventry’s Theatre Absolute, and The Arrival and Generation 2020 by Chinonyerem Odimba, artistic director and chief executive of theatre company tiata fahodzi. Casting is to be confirmed.
There will also be contributions from writers participating in City Voices, a programme to find new Coventry storytellers.
Faith will be held on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 September. Ticketing information will be available from Friday, 20 August at the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 web site.