Bloomin’ Church! makes God more accessible - a review from Holly

Bloomin’ Church! was written by Anne Middleton and ran from Wednesday 18 October until Saturday 21 October at Devonport Playhouse. The opening night of the Methodist play Bloomin’ Church! was attended by Holly Adams, the Evangelism and Contemporary Culture Officer of the Methodist Church. 
Here is Holly’s review.

Bloomin'Church

There are churches where everyone sits in the same place every Sunday, where seemingly petty personal agendas consume church council meetings and where the overworked minister can’t stop raving about his mission plans. This is a church where people have journeyed together for many years, serving in friendship and sometimes frustration alongside each other. This is Hope Methodist Church – the fictional community at the heart of Bloomin’ Church!

Bloomin’ Church! is a story about six church members who are facing various challenges in their lives such as poor mental health, ageing, grief or coming to terms with their identity. There may well be a character in the story whose experiences resonate with you. As the members take risks and show vulnerability, they discover they have more in common with each other and with the local community than what sets them apart.

I saw the play on its opening night and laughed, cried and sang along with the cast at different points in the production. It was a big moment for the writer, Anne, who is the Performing Arts Mission Enabler in Plymouth and Devonport Circuit. She said, “There is nothing more exciting than seeing an idea form into words and finally blossom in front of my eyes – the performances were so emotional!”

Anne had a vision to create a play that could be enjoyed by everyone. To achieve this, the play needed to be professionally produced and shown in a non-threatening, neutral space. While most of the cast consisted of professional actors, Anne also invited a couple of local Methodist members to participate as extras. The play ran for five performances, with roughly 100 people in attendance each night, the audience included local Methodist members, their friends and neighbours.

​Some readers may remember the production Gospel End by Rob Frost and Stephen Deal, which toured around the Connexion in 1992. In 2022, Anne, who toured with Gospel End, was inspired to write a new play for our time, “Although we are facing some quite different issues, the need for a message of reconciliation and hope is as relevant today as it was then.”​

The story focuses on ordinary human lives and the importance of community. Director Mark Sidey said, “Whilst the play is set within the church, many of the issues that the characters face are recognisable to anyone outside of it. Without our families, colleagues or friends, many of these issues that we face would become insurmountable.” Bloomin’ Church! shows us that being real with each other deepens our relationships, allowing our church and communities to flourish. It shows that, despite the imperfections of the church, a community where we can be our true, fullest, God-made self, is essential to our blooming.

​Bloomin’ Church! invites us to consider if we are prepared to step outside our church building and forge meaningful relationships with the people we meet? Are we open to being changed by God as our relationships deepen? Will we believe that God loves us (and others!) just as we are and calls us as ourselves, to do God’s work of love?​

Now, the play’s run has come to an end and Anne concludes, “My hope is that this will be a starting point - to show people how good the production is and just how it can be used to build bridges with the community, breaking down the walls of the church and making God more accessible to all.

A number of circuits already contacted me to enquire how they could have the play come to them.”
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Bloomin' Church at Devonport Playhouse - coming in October

We're really excited to launch the publicity of the new Performing Arts Mission production that will be taking place at the Devonport Playhouse in October (18th-21st). This brand new and exciting play, by Anne Middleton (Performing Arts Mission Enabler), will be performed by a core cast of seven professional actors, with featured extras. We have a wonderful local Director, Mark Sidey, on board, along with a talented local Set and Lighting Designer, Andy Martin. With a brilliant cast and music underscore by Simeon Wood and song music (there are two song and dance numbers!) by the fabulous Rob Young, this promises to be an unforgettable production!

Tickets will go live next week, so watch his space for more information...

We are really looking forward to seeing this wonderful work by Anne Middleton. Such a fabulously talented lady.

Publicity design by Daniel Watson Graphic Design & Photography

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An Enchanting Evening at Ashburton - Tickets are selling fast!!

Next Circuit Service at Woodford Methodist Church

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Soul Stories at Sherwell United Church

Soul Stories is an opportunity for creatives to come together and express our stories through sharing our art. This will be a safe and nurturing space to listen to each other's stories and inspire one another on our journey...

Please note: this is not a performance, but participation. Please contact Anne via the PAM website, to find out how to prepare... 

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Hope Theatre Cafe coming to Plymouth Methodist Central Hall....

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This video was created by Anne Middleton with Bridget Down
– inspired by signs of hope shared by Lay Workers in the Plymouth and Exeter Methodist District.

(See end of video for credits.) For more video resources visit the PAM website: www.performingartsmission.com

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NEXT CIRCUIT SERVICE ON 5TH MARCH...... Keep a space in your diary.....

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FOLLOWING THE AMAZING CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE LAST NIGHT (with a beautiful twist)

WATCH OUT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MORE WONDERFUL  
CIRCUIT SERVICES COMING ON

5th March 2023
4th June 2023
10th September 2023
3rd December 2023

Keep a space in your diary!

THESE SERVICES ARE SET TO HAVE YOU ENTHRALLED!!

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Silent Night / Mystery Night – Rev. Brenton Prigge will perform his beautiful version of the popular carol live at the Circuit Carol Service on Sunday 11th December, 6.30pm. His new verses speak of the mystery of God becoming a child; Emmanuel - God with us… 
This video is from the PDCMC Virtual Carol Service, 2020. Videos are available on the PAM YouTube. 


https://youtu.be/SN3MJ4Ny3UA

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​Stefan Smart (I AM MARK) invited Anne Middleton to take part in one of his 'Question Mark' podcasts, which ended up being recorded in the middle of the heatwave! Hosted by David Payne, Anne and Stefan discuss what Jesus might have meant when he said that his disciples must 'take up their cross and follow him.' To hear knowledgeable insights from Stefan and to find out a little more about our Performing Arts Mission Enabler through her personal responses to the passage, grab a coffee and click on the link below...
 
youtu.be/Q_P542lS2ow
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THE NEXT HOPE THEATRE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AND TICKETS ARE ALREADY SELLING FAST!...

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CREATIVE SPIRIT AT SHERWELL UNITED CHURCH......................

Come along to Sherwell United Church  on 3rd July 2022.

There will be a Special Sunday Service with guest Simeon Wood following on from the Hope Theatre Cafe on 2nd July.

Both of these wonderful events are at:

Sherwell United Church
North Hill
Plymouth PL4 8ER

Just turn up on Sunday 3rd July at 10.30 for the Service........

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HOPE THEATRE CAFE HAVE TWO EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP..........​

​Stefan Smart – I AM MARK
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Saturday 11th June 2022
Ridgeway Methodist Church, PL7 2PS

Stefan Smart is a UK actor and storyteller with his own solo word-for-word dramatisation of Mark’s Gospel, I AM MARK. Using nothing but a kitchen chair as a prop, Stefan has taken this show all around the world, performing firstly at Speakers’ Corners throughout the UK, and, more recently, in cathedrals, churches, schools, prisons, conferences, arts festivals and theatres. Through this powerful piece of theatre, directed by Lisa Gilmour, Stefan brings the gospel to life, impacting heart, mind and soul with the word of God...
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Tickets £8 
(Includes free coffee & home-made cake)
Box Office: 01752 348 178
(Please book in advance)

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Simeon Wood – Flautist
 
Saturday 2nd July 2022
Sherwell United Church, PL4 8ER
 
‘An instrumentalist of dazzling versatility… Simeon Wood utilises his gift to share with his audience his Christian faith that is a fundamental part of his life.’ Interspersed with humour and anecdote, Simeon promises to bring a sense of fun and laughter to his performance.
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Simeon Wood is a friend of Performing Arts Mission and has collaborated with Anne Middleton on many exciting projects, including creating a full underscore for ‘Passion.’
 
Tickets £8
(Includes free coffee & home-made cake)
 
Box Office: 01752 266 163
(Please book in advance)
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GOSPEL END TOUR - 30TH ANNIVERSARY! .....................

​Thirty years ago, on the 25th May 1992, the two-month theatre tour of Gospel End started in Cornwall (Regal Theatre, Redruth), followed by Plymouth (Pavilions) on the 26th May! Gospel End, which was based on Rob Frost’s novel of the same name and turned into a script for theatre by Rob Frost and Stephen Deal, is the story of a Methodist Minister and ‘his wife’ who end up at a church (Gospel End Methodist Church) that is literally falling apart! Gospel End addressed, with humour and sensitivity, some of the issues faced by the Methodist Church at the time; though we have moved forwards a lot in the last thirty years and are facing some new issues, the need for a message of reconciliation and hope remains…
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Anne Middleton is in the process of writing an exciting new play, to reflect on where we are as a church now and how we move forwards sensitively and creatively, as we come out of this season of disruption and opportunity. More information about that to follow soon, but for now, Anne is taking a taking a trip down memory lane…

HOPE THEATRE CAFE HAVE TWO EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP..........

NEXT CIRCUIT SERVICE - Sunday 8th May at Ridgeway Methodist Church

PERFORMING ARTS MISSION  PRESENTS

Tues 12th – Fri 15th April 2022, 7.30pm, Pennycross Methodist Church

‘Passion’ is a powerful representation of the culmination of Jesus’ ministry on Earth, depicting the harsh reality of the suffering he endured, to bring us the hope of resurrection. Join with us during Holy Week 2022, as we take Jesus out of the stained-glass window and discover the depth of amazing grace…

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TICKETS
  Our first PAM circuit production of Passion – postponed from 2020 – will take place (God-willing!) during Holy Week 2022. For anyone who has tickets, please contact the Box Office on the number below to arrange to exchange your tickets for new tickets (we ask you to stick to the same days, if possible, to keep things simple). This is to ensure that everyone is aware of the new dates and venue, Pennycross Methodist Church and to release spaces for anyone who is sadly unable to attend for any reason.  

For anyone who hadn’t already purchased tickets, please watch this space as we will try our best to make some more tickets available. Thank you to everyone who has patiently waited with their original tickets – we really appreciate your support.  

Box Office – Monica: 01752 348178 (9.30-2.00)

For more information please Click Here