Neil Bartlett / Nicolas Bloomfield / Leah Hausman: Seven Sacraments

13 & 15 May 1998
St. Bartholomew's Church, Brighton
22 & 23 May 1998
Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire
28, 29, & 30 May 1998
Southwark Cathedral, London

Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire

"Without some ceremonies it is not possible to keep any order."
Preface to The Book of Common Prayer

Seven Sacraments was a dramatic oratio developed from Neil Bartlett's solo performance The Seven Sacraments of Nicolas Poussin presented by Artangel at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, 1997. In 1998 Neil was joined by composer Nicholas Bloomfield and choreographer Leah Hausman to explore the idea further and present a performance in places of worship, locations that have already witnessed thousands of people trying to understand the seven moments in time and life that are called sacraments.

In 1559 the Bishops of Elizabeth the First laid down in one small book all the words and ceremonies that they thought anyone might ever need to celebrate the occasions that mark out the journey from birth to death. For hundreds of years, congregations assembled to recite those words - whenever a child arrived; when two people publicly declared their love; and when, finally, the last goodbyes had to be spoken for the dead. Sermons were delivered, choirs made churches ring with psalms.

But what about us, now? What words, what stories and what music can we use? What shall we say and what shall we feel at those moments in our lives?

Seven Sacraments deals with these questions, not replacing old ceremonies but instead finding echoes of the old words, music and gestures in our own lives. The text of the performance is fragments from the Elizabethan prayerbook services, sermons of John Donne and original writing by Neil Bartlett and the different children who performed at each venue. It was the final work by musical theatre production company Gloria, a collaboration between Neil Bartlett, Nicolas Bloomfield, Leah Hausman and Simon Mellor.

Seven Sacraments is a co-production by Artangel, Brighton Festival, Gloria and Stages. This project was supported by Arts Council England, Special Angels and The Company of Angels.

Funders and Collaborators