‘CELL’ | A theatre piece about Julian of Norwich, written and performed by Cindy Oswin.
Part of the events programme connected to the exhibition ‘Medieval Women in Their Own Words’ at The British Library.
By Birte Pedersen
A transformation takes place in an unassuming conference room at The British Library. In ‘Cell’ it becomes the small, contained space, where Julian of Norwich spent her last 30 years as an Anchoress. This is done by simple means: a black backcloth, a table covered in white linen and one spotlight that frames the room. Cindy Oswin also transforms – from being a tour guide, explaining the dimensions of the cell and the story of Julian to her tourist charges, to being an everywoman reading and examining the Revelation of Divine Love texts. Julian herself appears halfway through the piece in a moving incarnation as a puppet, a life sized, enigmatic face and a flowing black and white medieval dress. As with all skilled puppetry, the mask acquires life and power. She looks as if she’s listening to her own words, as they are read aloud. Choral music by Camilla Saunders provides an intermittent soundscape that enhances the intensity and atmosphere of the piece. The audience is transported to Julian’s time and, in moments, we feel in in her presence, through the puppet and the power of her words. And yet, a modern sensibility and analysis is woven through the performance, by Cindy Oswin questioning and challenging the texts.
The show manages to be both an introduction to, and exploration of, Julian’s story and the relevance of her writing to a modern audience. It deserves the sell-out success at The British Library and I only wish more people would have the opportunity to see it – after all, the Medieval Women in Their Own Words exhibition runs till 2nd March 2025, so I for one will be lobbying the Library to put on more performances of ‘Cell’ before it closes. The show is a perfect companion piece to the exhibition. It expands on the idea that medieval women, of which Julian of Norwich is of course a great example, had a voice that can still reach us today, through their writing.