Level Seven - Challenging Christian Thinking

THE MOUNTAIN WITHIN
Date: 12/11/2008

FAITH AND BUSINESS
Do They Mix?
Date: 30/6/2008

FAITH AND HEALTH
Is There a Link?
Date: 8/4/2008

Is Religion Good For Women?
Date: 31/1/2008

Is God “Green”?
Date: 27/11/2007

Nobody Knows
Date: 5, 6 & 7 Oct 2007

"Faith and Politics"
Do They Mix?
Date: 5/7/2007

“LET MY PEOPLE GO”
Date: 3/4/2007

How to avoid another Enron
Date: 30/1/2007

DISCRIMINATION
How Do We Fight It? Is Litigation the Answer?
Date: 17/10/2006

The Terminally Ill Life
What Value?
Date: 27/9/2006

Da Vinci Decoded
Date: 28/6/2006

Nobody Knows

"Nobody Knows" was written and directed by Mervyn Weir. Staged by Krik Krak Productions it brought to life the scale of horror experienced in numbers that rank alongside the holocaust. The story of slavery was painfully instructive, yet powerfully delivered. Weir's writing and directing covered some of the important topics of the slave trade and its legacy in a manner which although direct, and at times painful, still allowed for windows of humour and grace.

Actor Osi Okerafor played Olaudah Equiano, an ex-slave who bought his freedom and in the 1780's wrote his autobiography, 'The Interesting Narratives of Olaudah Equiano, The African, written by Himself'.

Among the major topics covered was skin colour. The audience were both mesmerised and in stitches as the scene opened in the proverbial 'Garden of Eden' and highlighted the attraction of slave owners to their slaves. This powerful portrayal by Yonah Odoom, as Eve and Chris Trachnell as Adam moved on to feature a heart rending story of the abuse of Harriett Jacobs (Caroline King-Gedakah) by her master. The audience is left gasping, yet the scene moves on quickly to address the topic of skin colour and concludes in a most powerful yet extremely funny explanation of the variations of the skin colour, black.

The song, 'No More Auction Block' sung by Robert Green and Talibah Odonkor moved the audience to tears. In another scene, Wilberforce (Andrew Wall), sporting wings as that of an angel, is brought into the court room, presided over by Toussaint L'Overture, (Lennox Brown) to answer the charge of distorting history and almost wiping out the names of the many others, English and African, who also fought and in many cases gave their lives in the struggle for abolition.

Reflecting on the experience Victor Pilmoor stated that, "Nobody Knows asked questions about forgiveness, reconciliation and reparation. It does not necessarily provide answers, save that man's inhumanity to man cannot be forgotten. In remembrance, we learn and accept responsibility for our history and heritage and become changed."

Mervyn Weir managed to handle a painful history and its legacy with honesty and understanding and to end on a note of inspiration, triumph and gratefulness for the giants on whose shoulders we stand. And that is a collective we, blacks and whites. We, who have a role to play in today's society in making this world a better place.

The London run of the play at the Shaw Theatre brought out the crowds including names such as Rudolph Walker (EastEnders), Benjamin Zephaniah (poet), and Kwame Kwei-Armah (playwright and actor – Casualty). Daniel Sontunde of Premier Radio commented that the play was, "simply brilliant." Beverly Crooks of Brunel University said, "That was tantamount to a spiritual experience. That was the most incredible journey we were taken through".

[Richard de Lisser, SEC Communication Director/BUC News]