AGAP Theatre presents “The Martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie”
Written & Directed by Stephen Callaghan
The story of Scotland’s martyr is brought to life in a special production
for the 400th Anniversary.
for the 400th Anniversary.
AGAP Theatre will visit various venues across Scotland with a production marking the 400th Anniversary of Scotland’s martyr who was hanged at Glasgow Cross in March 1615.
The production is a revised version of the hugely successful play which premièred at Lentfest 2012 in Glasgow. It tells the story of John Ogilvie, a young nobleman from Banffshire who travelled to Europe as a teenager and converted to Catholicism, returning to Scotland 18 years later as a Jesuit priest disguised as a horse-dealer during turbulent times when the Mass was outlawed following the reformation. He was betrayed to the authorities by one of his flock and publicly executed at Glasgow Cross for refusing to recognise the spiritual authority of King James over that of the Pope.
The play provides a poignant snapshot of the life of one of Scotland’s true heroes, with all the excitement and drama of the tragic historical events that led to his ultimate sacrifice and the spirit and humour of those who kept their faith alive during difficult times. Don’t miss it! The play is now published by Dunkeld Diocese in “Theatre of Faith: Catholic Plays for Our Time, Volume Two” by Stephen Callaghan.
Reproduced from the AGAP website with the kind permission of Stephen Callaghan.
The Performance in Keith, Saturday 18 July 2015
On Saturday 18 July, AGAP Theatre visited the historic town of Keith, birthplace of St John Ogilvie, for a one-off performance of the play, as part of the 400th Anniversary celebrations. It was a powerful and moving production. The script was well-written, the staging was very atmospheric, and the acting was simply superb. Many congratulations and sincere thanks to everyone at AGAP for a most enjoyable and memorable evening. Below are some of the photos from the performance in Keith.
RC Diocese of Aberdeen Charitable Trust. A registered Scottish Charity Number SC005122.