LONDON – A dynamic new musical exploring the story of St Bernadette and the Marian apparitions in Lourdes is set to return to stages in London and France this summer, following acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and Nigeria’s National Theatre in Lagos.
<em>Vision: The Musical Story of Lourdes</em> brings a fresh, contemporary lens to a centuries-old tale. The production will run in London at Holy Apostles Church, Pimlico, from July 11 to 13, before heading to Lourdes, where it will be staged at the Hotel Solitude from July 24 to August 2.
Described as “energetic” and “must-see” by the <em>Edinburgh Fringe Review</em>, the musical intertwines the 1858 events surrounding Bernadette Soubirous with modern-day reflections. Framed around two present-day travellers who strike up a conversation with a local barman in Lourdes, the two-act show mixes drama, music, and real-world questions about faith, doubt, and commercialisation.
The production is the brainchild of lyricist Jonny Dixon-Smith and composer Dom Hartley, who met while working on pilgrimage in Lourdes in the 1990s. “We wanted to write something genuine and fresh,” said Hartley, also known as the founder of the UK’s top covers band <em>29 Fingers</em>. “Lourdes isn’t a one-dimensional place – it draws in people from all walks of life.”
Avoiding any romanticized portrayal, the creators aim to present a grounded, honest narrative. “We have steered well away from the temptation to sprinkle the story of St Bernadette with fairy dust,” Hartley explained, noting that the show’s impartial narrator reaches beyond believers to speak to agnostics and sceptics alike.
Meanwhile Dixon-Smith, who left a high-powered legal career to become an author and creative writing teacher, adds: “We deliberately set our show in a modern-day Lourdes bar. What I was really interested in are the frictions between the spiritual and the material, and between faith and reason.”
Featuring a cast of professional actors – many of whom also perform in the live band – the show is as musically compelling as it is thought-provoking. The modern setting highlights the juxtaposition between 19th-century mysticism and 21st-century commercialism, with nods to souvenir shops, bustling hotels, and pilgrims still searching for meaning.
Tickets and more information can be found at <a href="http://visionthemusical.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visionthemusical.com</a>.
