COURSE: The Magic of Musicals with Ian Bradley - SOLD OUT
The Magic of Musicals with Ian Bradley
July 26th to 28th at Gladstone Library
Please note: residential places have sold out. Please email [email protected] to be notified in the event there is a cancellation.
This light-hearted and song-packed weekend, led by Ian Bradley, explores the often surprising and overlooked spiritual resonances and religious influences in some of the most popular musicals. Among the shows which we will watch, analyse and sing along to will be The Sound of Music, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables and Mamma Mia! In all of them there is more theology to be discovered and unpacked than might be supposed, as well as much enjoyment to be had!
For twenty years Ian Bradley taught the only university course in the world in the theology and spirituality of musical theatre. He is the author of You’ve Got to Have a Dream: The Message of the Musical and is currently writing a book for Oxford University Press. Provisionally entitled Music of the Night, it focuses on religious influences and spiritual resonances in operetta and musical theatre. He has previously led two weekends on musical theatre at the Gladstone Library which sold out and were warmly commended by those taking part.
The programme will include access to Music of the Night – Spiritual Yearning and Religious Influences in the Work of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a public lecture at the Gladstone Library by Ian Bradley, 5pm Saturday 27th July. Click here for separate tickets if you are NOT attending the course.
Course structure:
Friday 26th July
5pm Welcome and introduction – Getting to Know You
6pm Dinner (two courses and tea or filter coffee)
7.30pm Session 1: Singing nuns and lonely goatherds: Songs of Praise & The Sound of Music
Saturday 27th July
9.45am Session 2: The Fatherhood of God & The Brotherhood of Man: Oscar Hammerstein II
11am Coffee break
11.30am Session 3: Stephen Schwartz, The Reluctant Pilgrim
1pm Lunch (two courses and tea or filter coffee) followed by free time
5pm Public Lecture: Music of the Night - The Spirituality of Andrew Lloyd Webber
6.30pm Dinner (two courses and tea or filter coffee)
7.30pm The two musical Jesuses - film showing of Godspell (and possibly a bit of Jesus Christ Superstar)
Sunday 28th July
9.45am Session 5: The never ending road to Calvary: Les Miserables
11.30am Final session: The Circle of Life, The Book of Mormon & Mamma Mia! Here we go again! Recent musicals and what they may be saying
1pm Lunch (two courses and tea or filter coffee) and departure
Residential rates (includes breakfast, two course lunch with tea or filter coffee on Saturday and Sunday and a two course dinner with tea or filter coffee on Friday and Saturday)
One delegate in a single ensuite: £400 (or £304 with a student, clergy or Society of Authors discount)
Two delegates in a twin or double: £620 (or £500 with discounts)
One delegate in a double or twin occupancy: £460 (or £360 with discount)
One delegate and one non-delegate guest in a twin or double: £550 (or £450 with discount)
Non-residential rate: £220 (including breaks, lunches and dinners)
Cover image: potrait supplied by the speaker. Background image released under Creative Commons licence