Margery Kempe - The Fire of Love

The Fire of Love by Tony D Triggs - premièred by Wells Community Theatre Society and reviewed by Dr Ian Watson

 

In March I attended the final performance of The Fire of Love, which was staged at Our Lady Star of the Sea, the Catholic church in Wells. The first thing to say is that amateur dramatics is not my normal choice of entertainment on a Saturday evening, I am more Grand Opera, Matthew Bourne or Dvořák.  Secondly, I was completely ignorant of the play’s protagonist the mystic and visionary Margery Kempe.  As it turned out, I found myself on a captivating and entertaining journey into a lesser-known part of Norfolk’s history.

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So, before I walked into Wells’ Catholic church (which had for the performance been transformed with taste and respect into a theatre with stage) I had few expectations and only a sense of curiosity. What followed was a truly enlightening experience. The play turned out to be a powerful portrayal of a remarkable woman whose closeness to God resulted in her facing and overcoming many trials and tribulations.

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For those who do not know, Margery Kempe, was an English Catholic mystic, known for writing through dictation The Book of Margery Kempe, a work considered by some to be the first autobiography in the English language. Her book chronicles her domestic tribulations, her extensive pilgrimages to holy sites in Europe and the Holy Land, as well as her mystical conversations with Jesus Christ. She is honoured in the Anglican Communion but has not been canonised as a Catholic saint.

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The play focused on one part of her extraordinary life which was a trial for blasphemy.  This was enough to give a flavour of a life filled with visions, pilgrimages, personal struggles, and spiritual revelations. Kempe’s narrative, as portrayed on stage, showcased her complex character: a wife, mother, and devout woman who faced both personal and societal challenges. As someone unfamiliar with her life within the historical context of Norfolk during the medieval period, I found the play wonderfully enlightening.

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What stood out to me most was the ability to make Kempe’s life resonate with contemporary themes. Despite the centuries that separate us, her experiences with faith, identity, and personal struggles felt deeply relevant. Kempe’s courage in sharing her spiritual visions, which were considered unorthodox at the time, showed her remarkable inner strength. She was often dismissed by society but continued to follow her own path, making her a true pioneer in a time when women’s voices were often silenced.

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The staging in the church was equally impressive - hats off to Fr Keith who is the Priest in charge of the local Catholic Parish for agreeing to open the church to the local community in this way. The design and costumes were very realistic and beautifully evoked medieval Norfolk. The cast gave a brave performance with much energy and enthusiasm.  The lead actor who played Margery Kempe was excellent.  Her portrayal was filled with humour and empathy capturing the emotional and spiritual complexity of the mystic.  I enjoyed the singing and was impressed by the authenticity of the Broad Norfolk dialect along with the Latin used; the latter delivered impeccably by the irrepressible and real-life Priest Fr Desmond.

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Overall, the play was a great success. The Wells Community Theatre Society should be proud of what they achieved.  It combined a bit of history and religious insight with fun, singing, harmless innuendo, pathos and reflection - not a bad recipe (after all) for an entertaining and emotional experience on a Saturday night.  More importantly, the play reminded me that even the quietest lives can have profound impact, and that the struggles of those who challenge societal norms are worth remembering. Margery Kempe’s story, once unknown to me, now feels like an important part of Norfolk’s history. I feel enriched for having witnessed her journey unfold on stage.

Dr Ian Watson