A musical that brings to life the miraculous events of St Bernadette’s visions in the town of Lourdes, southwestern France, is set to hit London theatres this summer.
Vision, conceived in 2000 with its first performances in 2002, has been staged at numerous venues over the past 20 years – including twice at Edinburgh’s prestigious Fringe Festival and as far afield as the National Theatre in Lagos, Africa.
The musical tells the tale of St Bernadette Soubirous, to whom Our Lady first appeared on Thursday, 11 February 1858, in a small cave – or grotto – just outside the town of Lourdes. The 14-year-old had gone to collect firewood when she heard a noise described as “something like a gust of wind”.
St Bernadette’s experience follows the pattern of other Marian apparitions in the 19th and 20th centuries, where Mary appeared primarily to those of humble backgrounds and low social standing. Born into extreme poverty in rural France, St Bernadette at the time of the visions spoke primarily the local Occitan dialect, having only recently started learning French when she began schooling at age 13. Essentially illiterate, her family’s financial situation was so desperate that they were accommodated by her mother’s cousin in a one-room basement that had formerly been used as a prison cell.
St Bernadette felt a strong desire to return to the grotto the following day. In total, Our Lady appeared to her 18 times between 11 February and 16 July 1858, always at the grotto. On 25 February she was instructed to drink water – and she found a small puddle. A day later, a spring was uncovered that now produces approximately 27,000 gallons of water per day; bathing in this water has become synonymous with pilgrimages to Lourdes.
Another notable occurrence took place on 25 March—the feast of the Annunciation—which paved the way for local priest Father Dominique Peyramale to give credence to Bernadette’s visions. Bernadette had persistently asked the Lady for her name but had not informed others that the visions were from Our Lady. On that day, the vision told her, “<em>Que soy era Immaculada Councepciou</em>”, which translated from provincial Occitan means “I am the immaculate conception.”
When St Bernadette recounted the event to Father Peyramale, he was astounded and asked whether she understood the meaning of the words; she replied that she did not. These words summarised the dogma pronounced four years earlier by Pope Pius IX that Mary was immaculately conceived – preserved immune from all stain of original sin. For Father Peyramale, seeing a poor, illiterate child who had not even received her first communion express such a complex theological concept dispelled his scepticism.
On 8 June 1858, the mayor of Lourdes barricaded the grotto, stationed guards to prevent public access and forbade locals from kneeling near or discussing the grotto. St Bernadette’s final vision was received while kneelling at the barricade. In October that year, Napoleon III ordered the grotto to be reopened and, since then, pilgrims have visited regularly, with the water from the spring particularly associated with healing the sick. Bernadette never returned to the grotto; in 1866 she joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, central France, and lived a quiet life of prayer until her death aged 35.
Vision tells the story of Lourdes from the perspective of an impartial barman who gathers the locals to hear about Bernadette’s visions, the church’s deliberations and the transformation of the town.
Blending pop and rock with more traditional musical styles, 16 original songs written by Jonny Smith and Dominic Hartley are performed live by the cast alongside a host of musicians.
Vision will be performed at Apostles Hall, Pimlico, London, SW1V 4LY, with five performances from 11 to 13 July 2025. Additional performances will be held twice daily between 24 July and 2 August in Lourdes at The Hotel Solitude.<br><br>Tickets are now available at <a href="http://VisionTheMusical.com">VisionTheMusical.com</a>
<em>(Photo by FRED SCHEIBER/AFP via Getty Images)</em>
