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NEWS
TOUCHING THE PAST, a play about Nancy Astor, Britain’s first female MP
STORM feature film based on the SAS’s secret war in Oman is in pre-production with director R. Paul Wilson
NIGHT, a new play, opens at The Old Library, Bodmin December 2019
ALL AT SEA, feature film comedy, was released in September 2019
  • Plymouth Evening Herald, Friday March 16 2001
    Story of Job comes to life
    • IN THE Old Testament, Book of Job, Satan wagers God that if Job were to lose loved ones and material assets, and be afflicted by severe physical pain and infirmity he would abandon his faith and curse his maker. Jobs subsequent subjection to the worst calamities imaginable may be read as a parable about faith.
      The main section of the play consists of Job's discussions with two of his friends. Zophar and Eliphaz. He sees himself as an innocent victim, rejects their explanations, and remonstrates with God. It takes a long time for him to realise that be must accept God without question.
      Author Hugh Janes has directed his play himself. It's strength, beauty and impact lie in the words, their sounds as much as their meaning. Patrick Romer expresses Job's puzzlement, frustration and final acquiescence, but needs to project more in the wide spaces of the church. Doubling as the friends, Justin Webb deploys his resonant voice as God, and David Plimmer as Satan fields some pretty persuasive arguments. Organist Roger Warland accompanies Elaine Rockwell's soaring soprano in 0 Silver Moon from Dvorak's Rusalka (sung in counterpoint to one of Job's speeches) and I know That My Redeemer Liveth from Handel's Messiah.
      This is an intense and moving experience, probing in 75 minutes some of the great questions of faith, confirming that there are no simple answers, and that God's sovereignty is total.
      BILL STONE


  • Plymouth Evening Herald, Saturday March 17 2001
    Church is host to musical
    • A MUSICAL play telling the Biblical story of Job is being performed at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth.
      The play, called Divine Darkness, was written and is directed by Hugh Janes and includes music by Dvorak and Handel.
      The story of Job tells how Satan bets with God that if faithful Job loses his possessions and loved ones and suffers physical pain he will lose his faith.
      Music is provided by organist Roger Warland with soprano Elaine Rockwell.
      The play is being performed at the church and will get its last showing today.


  • Plymouth Extra, March 15 2001
    Biblical story's world premiere
    • ST Andrew's Church in Plymouth will host a world premiere tonight, Thursday, of Devine Darkness, by Hugh Janes.
      Inspired by the Book of Job, the performance will star Patrick Romer, Justin Webb and David Plimmer, with music played by Roger Warland and sung by Elaine Rockwell.
      Hugh, who runs Waterfront Writers at the Barbican Theatre, has written several plays including The Perfect Murder, plus TV and film work.
      Playing Job is Patrick Romer, best Known for playing Marius in Casualty. Justin Webb, who has appeared with the Orchard Theatre but is well-known for playing the Dame in Barbican Theatre pantomimes will play God and playing Satan is David Plimmer, whose TV credits include Persuasion. The Choir, Casualty, 999 and The Bill.
      Divine Darkness runs until Saturday, March 17 and is at 7.30 nightly.
      It is a year of the Artist commission by South West Arts, supported by Plymouth City Council, the Barbican Theatre and the LSC.
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