Cell: Julian of Norwich

This event will take place in the British Library Knowledge Centre Bronte Room.

Cell imagines an encounter between Julian of Norwich, medieval anchorite, mystic and the first woman to write in English, and a troubled woman from the 21st century. The hour-long play examines Julian’s enclosed life and her work – ‘Revelations of Divine Love,’ in a spirit of inquiry, humour and hope

Cindy Oswin is a writer/actor/director working in theatre with a special interest in archive material leading to performance. This includes a commission by the British Library to write and perform ‘A Salon with Gertrude and Alice,’ about Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas.  Also for the British Library, her personal history of British alternative theatre from the sixties to the eighties; ‘Cindy Oswin - On the Fringe,’ combined video interviews of many theatre practitioners with whom she has worked and a live lecture/performance. She wrote ‘The Triumph of Hope’ with Mark Rylance for Shakespeare’s Globe, a masque for the royal opening event. Oswin’s opera libretti commissions include ‘A Better Place,’ composer Martin Butler, for the ENO and ‘Take Care,’ composer Douglas Finch, commissioned by Nottingham University. ‘Cell’ was originally commissioned for the Oxford conference, New Visions of Julian of Norwich and performed at Somerville College, Oxford, on July 16th 2022, supported by TORCH.

This event accompanies the British Library exhibition Medieval Women: In Their Own Words (25 October – 2 March 2025). Separate ticket for exhibition entry required.  Explore the Medieval Women events series here.

Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event.

Half price tickets available for Members, Students, Under 26 and other concession groups.

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