Cathedral Play
/To celebrate the Festival of 1958 the Medway Theatre Guild staged in the Cathedral a play ‘The Mystery of the Finding of the Cross’. Featured in The Friends of Rochester Cathedral Annual Report for 1959.
This play was written by a Belgian Monk, Henri Gheon, and was produced by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Lee. For Mr. and Mrs. Lee to produce a play like this was a great achievement and they deserve all the tributes that they have received.
'The play deals with certain historic events in the reign of the Emperor Constantine, more especially his victory through the symbol of the Cross, and later the finding of the true Cross by his Mother, St. Helena.
Space forbids us to give all the credit that is due to the principals and large cast of about sixty-four players who took part. Special mention is due to the speaking chorus which was the basis of the production.
Photographs of The Mystery of the Finding of the Cross. Chapter Library, Events and Services Photo Album.
Choral speaking is an art now infrequently practised and the excellence of the chorus was the result of ten weeks of intensive effort. Mr. J. A. Levett, Cathedral Deputy Organist, trained the choir and arranged the music which was so much an integral part of the play.
The final scene where the audience was left with a view of the flood-lit Cross and the High Altar, whilst the choir sang the old Easter hymn, "O filii et filiae", left a final effect that was a most remarkable ending to a remarkable performance. The impressive atmosphere of our ancient Cathedral was, of course, a suitable setting for the play.
Though the expenses were naturally heavy it is satisfactory to add that a profit of £68 was available for the funds of the Friends.
The Friends of Rochester Cathedral were founded to help finance the maintenance of the fabric and grounds. The Friends’ annual reports have become a trove of articles on the fabric and history of the cathedral.
