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Bernadette’s stunning new musical!

From the 2002 Premiere of Vision held at Stonyhurst College

VISION tells the story of Bernadette of Lourdes like you’ve never heard it before. Written by former Stonyhurst College pupils, Jonathan Smith and Dominic Hartley. VISION premiered at Stonyhurst College in 2002.

If this makes you think this musical is a dour, dusty religious piece – forget it! Punks, Emo’s, Skaters, Goths, Ravers, Indie Chicks, Scene, Shoegazers, Rappers, Chavs, Townies and Wannabes are the order of the day.

The next performances of VISION will be in Lagos, Nigeria on 2nd - 4th May and then in Cambridgeshire from 16^th - 19^th July by the St Ives Youth Theatre. The production will then go on tour, hopefully including performances at both Stonyhurst College and Stonyhurst St. Mary’s Hall later in the year.

CDs of the Vision soundtrack are available from the Stonyhurst College Reception or by visiting the web site below.

To visit 'Vision The Musical' web site, click here.

To visit the St. Ives Youth Theatre web site, click here.

Synopsis of Vision

On a quiet road in southern France, two teenage hitchhikers are attempting, unsuccessfully, to hitch a ride to the coast. Instead, they stumble on the town of Lourdes and are forced to spend a night there. They are stunned by the buzz of the place. They make enquiries at a local bar and are soon embroiled in the powerful story of Bernadette Soubirous, the fourteen-year old girl who is the source of the town’s success.

From the 2002 Premiere of Vision held at Stonyhurst College

The Barman Narrator then persuades his clientele to play out the various roles in the story. All the action takes place within the setting of a modern Lourdes cafe as the chairs and tables are moved to one side, the pianist starts a thumping rock riff on the piano and the Barman - now Narrator - launches into his first song.

The Narrator’s approach is direct, street-wise and impartial. He is there to tell the story, without ‘spin’. His bar becomes Lourdes in 1858 and we are on the way to understanding more about the girl who changed the town and France forever.

From the 2002 Premiere of Vision held at Stonyhurst College

The dramatic and tragic life of Bernadette is played out in front of the hitchhikers through 17 rock/pop songs, taking the audience on an exciting journey that incorporates ballads and jazz, comedy and pathos.

The central story is that of the relationship between Peyramale and Bernadette. His personal crisis and eventual ‘conversion’ to Bernadette’s cause is highlighted through the vastly contrasting musical styles of the songs. The worldliness of the other characters also provides a contrast with Bernadette’s simple integrity and leaves the audience with a picture of Bernadette as a highly exceptional spiritual person.

From the 2002 Premiere of Vision held at Stonyhurst College

At the end of the show, the Narrator brings the audience back to the modern-day reality of Lourdes. As the hitchhikers decide how to deal with the story they have just heard, the Narrator gives them a helping hand, revealing that he is not simply a materialist or a humanist philosopher.

 "Make sure you see it before it hits the West End"

From the 2002 Premiere of Vision held at Stonyhurst College