The Witness
Jo Blake (UK)
His story became History. Her story became Heresy.
The sacred and profane collide in this striking performance by interdisciplinary artist Jo Blake, inspired by the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Three copies of the gospel have been found – all of them with missing pages. As the only gospel written in the name of a woman, it reveals Mary Magdalene as a most formidable and courageous spiritual leader, confidante and companion of Christ.
Moving through humour, bold physicality and intricate storytelling; The Witness reveals how one woman’s 2000 year old testimony comes clattering into the life of a contemporary woman, initiating a reckoning and demanding that the missing pages be written anew.
Jo Blake is a performer working across the disciplines of storytelling, theatre and dance. Her dynamic, poetic performance style draws upon traditional and contemporary practices, exploring current cultural and personal questions through the lens of the mythic. Jo has a PhD in Emergent Storytelling Practices from the University of Chichester, an MA with Distinction in Dance Theatre from Trinity Laban and a First Class BA (Hons) in Performing Arts from the University of Winchester.
Performers - Jo Blake and Simon Palmer
Director - Jo Blake
Movement Director - Ben Duke
Lead Dramaturg: Lootie Johansen-Bibby
Visiting Dramaturg - Sheila Ghelani
Collaborative Devisor - Georgia Tillery-Randak
Designer - Ruth Stringer
Lighting Designer - Adi Currie
Sound Designer - Patch Middleton
Producer - Courtenay Johnson for Carbon Theatre
Stage Manager - Michael Fergie
The original production and wider engagement project was supported by The Kenneth Foundation, Northamptonshire Community Foundation, and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Production images by Ali Wright
Trailer: The Witness by Jo Blake
“Jo Blake and Carbon Theatre clearly have the confidence, knowledge and passion to produce provoking theatre to question, prompt and challenge modern society - and isn’t that what art is meant to do?”