Macbeth’s Witches

David Tennant, the former Dr Who actor, is putting on a new performance of Macbeth, in which every member of the audience will have earphones so they listen to even the quietest whispers from the actors. He has spoken of how this will help with the famous scene where Macbeth is confronted by witches who tell of his fate. He feels this is very difficult to stage successfully for modern audiences, with little or no belief in the supernatural. I am not entirely convinced that this is the case, but it is certainly true that there is less recognition of anything beyond ourselves in modern society. His solution is for the witches never to appear on stage at all; the audience will simply hear voices and left to work out for themselves the reality of what they are hearing.  At that point, I began to warm to the idea. Many years ago, a hymn writer described the call of God as the “still small voice of calm”, picking up episode describing the experience of the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament. Equally, I wonder what voices those who do evil think they hear? Perhaps the play is onto something important is dramatising the inner voice?

Rev David Poyner

A Reason for Hope?

In a few days, we will mark the 1st anniversary of the 7th October attack on Israeli civilians, the taking of the hostages and so to our present situation with over 40,000 killed in Gaza and now a war in Lebanon. A few months ago, I brought to this column the words of the Anglican Archdeacon of Jerusalem, when asked if he had any hope. He replied that in the city that witnessed the resurrection, there was always hope; it was harder to be optimistic. Those words came back to me a few days ago, when the lectionary featured Psalm 87. The second half of this psalm is as follows;

“I will mention Egypt and Babylon among those who know Me – along with Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia – when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ ”

And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”

The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.”

Singers and pipers will proclaim, “All my springs of joy are in You.”

The Old Testament is sometimes portrayed as the record of vengeful God who revels in smitings. However, as this psalm shows, there is another side, as the writer recognises how the God of Israel is also the God of all peoples. Perhaps this gives some more grounds for hope as this anniversary comes upon us.

Rev David Poyner