The Path to Paradise

North Country Theatre Workshop tonight presented 'The Path to Paradise' in St. Mary's Church. The Path was a Labyrinth, laid out on the floor of the church. Based on the Medieval design set into the floor of Chartes cathedral and with poetry and music provided by a Monk and a Musician, we set along the Path deep in thought. Song lines, poetry and music, as well as a strong smell of incense, created a wonderful atmosphere and quite an unusual experience. 

The Monk. He would walk you in to the Labyrinth and explain how to proceed.

Walking through the Labyrinth. You might find yourself meeting someone on your path. A metaphor for life, so I was told.

The Monk playing his Oboe; beautiful music in a beautiful setting I thought.

Candles at the entrance to the Labyrinth. Also at the entrance were pieces of paper with song lines and poetry written on them. You were to choose a piece of paper and take it to the centre.

From above. The Labyrinth took over nearly the whole of the Church.

Once in the centre you would place your paper in the centre, read other papers, talk, contemplate. I found it very relaxing and did not want to make the journey back out.

Part of some text that was read aloud as you made your way through the Labyrinth.

Candles, notes and objects were places along the path for you to read and contemplate.

The other Monk, during a reading.

A planet. In Medieval times, it was thought that the Earth was the centre of the universe. These planets, as part of the Labyrinth, are a representation of that Ideology.

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