THE CHRISTIANS:
The Gate Theatre, Notting Hill Gate
Director Christopher Haydon. 80mins.
In a world where the portrayal of Christians is routinely derogatory and often inaccurate, it is refreshing to come across a production that takes seriously a major doctrine of Christianity. The Christians transferred to London after a successful stint at the Edinburgh Festival.
The play is set in a mega-church at the pinnacle of its success that has just paid off its enormous debts for the new sanctuary. At this point pastor Paul preaches a sermon that redefines his position on hell. It is a radical change, centred on one emotional story told by a missionary at a pastors’ conference. Hell, instead being a future event, is reinterpreted as being right now in the world in which we all have to live. When we die we will all be ‘in Christ’ – even Hitler! This warm and inclusive message is solidified with a short video of a dove rising above the Grand Canyon.
