Level 4 Professional Diploma in Performance – Stamford College – Aiden McKenzie

Unit 3 – Small Company Performance

“Discuss and analyse the performance techniques

required within your chosen production”
Nuns – Robert Luxford – Extended Research

Nuns is a satirical comedy written by Robert Luxford and published on Off the Wall Plays. The play

follows the story of four nuns in a catholic convent, three of whom want to gain smoking rights.

Sister Cathrine, Sister Rozza, and Sister Bernadette plot to overthrow Mother Superior Patricia by

blackmailing her with video footage of her having sex with a priest. (Luxford, 2013)

Robert Luxford

Robert Luxford is the writer of Nuns. He is an actor, who has also written various plays and directed

small films. “Rob is an actor-writer-filmmaker and has worked in the industry for several years.”

(Luxford, 2016) He was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. “PO box 132 Penhurst. NSW

2222” (Luxford, 2020) As well as Nuns, Luxford has written and produced many original shows, such

as The Bold and the Reckless and I Dream of Johnny, a political Musical satire.

“Among his writing credits are full-length plays: Nuns, ““The Bold and The Reckless” and a Co- writer

for “I Dream of Johnny “, a political, musical satire.” (Luxford, 2016)

He has also written feature films like The Coven, based on an original play. “Features such as Twists

of Fate, The Coven (an adaptation of his published play and Greed.” (Luxford, 2016) Luxford has

often enjoyed working on comedy in the past and has taken inspiration for his stylistic choices from

Major comedy genius’s such as Neil Simon, and Monty Python. Robert also looks to other

mainstream comics such as Mel Brooks, and The Zucker Brothers

“In terms of Playwrighting for comedy my influences would be Neil Simon, also strongly influenced by

Monty Python. For comedy in general I am a fan of Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, The Zucker Brothers

(Flying High, Naked Gun).” (Luxford, 2021)

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Nuns was originally supposed to be a short play with a length of about ten minutes. Luxford

showcased this to audiences who loved the idea, which lead him to develop the show further until it

became the full-length play.

“Nuns was just a wild idea I came up with for a ten-minute play, which I later developed into a full

length one, largely because it was well received, and I also had a request for it. I just thought it

would be fun to have a group of Nuns fighting for a vice now considered to be mostly socially

unacceptable. Nuns are not allowed to smoke, among other things. I thought it would be interesting,

comedy wise, to see the most socially conservative members of society try and beat the system.”

(Luxford, 2021)

This information helps me prepare for the production as It tells me details on the inspiration for the

show such as Monty Python. Knowing the style of Luxford’s other plays and the inspiration for this

play, makes it easier for us, as a creative team, to come up with new and intelligent ideas to block

our production of Nuns.

Farce

Nuns was written in a satirical way, which means it lends itself hugely to the style of a farce, and

makes it easy for us, as producers and directors, to be able to heighten the emotions of the

characters, making what could be a quite serious topic into a light-hearted one, making sure we are

still shining a light onto the issue. A farce is

"a comic dramatic piece that uses highly improbable situations, stereotyped characters, extravagant

exaggeration, and violent horseplay." (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019)

This is evident throughout our production of nuns, with the set being made of unconventional items,

and two of the leading ladies being played by men.

The first appearance of a farce was in 18th century France where they appeared only as short comic

sketches to "pad the short breaks in long, often very sombre plays – a welcome respite from five
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hours of serious drama." (Mason and Bermel, 1983) The 18th century Farces were usually focused on

an old married couple, and a new blossoming relationship, "thriving on social upheaval." (Mason and

Bermel, 1983) Meanwhile in Italy, "a very physical and acrobatic style developed" (Mason and

Bermel, 1983) that used techniques used by traditional Roman performers. This is what is now

known as Commedia Dell' Arte. A style used by touring companies, that was "broad, exaggerated,

burlesqued" (Mason and Bermel, 1983) at markets and fairs. These over-exaggerated performances

had to be so because they needed to be heard and seen over the "noise of a market fair." (Mason

and Bermel, 1983) Commedia Dell' Arte is improvised scenes based on well-rehearsed physical and

acrobatic comedy. This physical style of comedy is used in our production of Nuns often, to make

sure that we are not just saying the lines to make people laugh, but that we are also using ourselves

to show the audience humour. This style also adds room for more physical transitions between

scenes.

The so-called bedroom farce began to emerge in the 1920's, which brought lots of sexual innuendos

and unseen onlookers, which matched "the new morality, (or lack thereof) of the Jazz Age." (Mason

and Bermel, 1983) Ben Travers was a playwright at the time and wrote many plays to play at the

Aldwych Theatre, that set the tone for British farce for the next 50 year. He inspired contemporary

playwrights such as Alan Ayckbourn, and Noel Coward. This style of theatre is what we are basing

our physical comedy for Nuns on. Our script lends itself to the style of a farce, with it being written

as a satire against the strict rules of the catholic church. We are using physical comedy, and props to

show how the nuns want to behave, versus how they must behave because of the strict rules placed

upon them.

Catholicism

Catholicism is a branch of the religious group that follows the teachings of Jesus Christ – Christianity.

Catholicism, Protestantism and the Eastern Orthodoxy are all major groups that dominate the

Christian world.
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“Roman Catholicism, Christian church that has been the decisive spiritual force in the history of

Western civilization. Along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism, it is one of the three major

branches of Christianity.” (McKenzie and Cunningham, 2019)

It is often led to believe that Jesus Christ himself founded the Catholic church, after people had

started to spread the word of the lord, in Jewish Palestine c30CE. Some Catholics also believe that

Jesus Christ inaugurated his disciple, St Peter, as the first Pope of the nascent church.

“According to Roman Catholic teaching, each of the sacraments was instituted by Christ himself.

Roman Catholicism also holds that Jesus established his disciple St. Peter as the first pope of the

nascent church (Matthew 16:18).” (McKenzie and Cunningham, 2019)

Catholics believe the same as most other Christian groups do. They believe that Jesus Christ was

divine, and that God put him on this earth to redeem the sins of humanity through his crucifixion

and resurrection.

“Catholics share with other Christians a belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, the son of God made man

who came to earth to redeem humanity's sins through His death and resurrection. They follow His

teachings as set out in the New Testament and place their trust in God's promise of eternal life with

Him.” (Stanford, 2011)

The Catholic Church is made up of Men, in a hierarchy that excludes women from power. These men

must be celibate in order to be ordained into priesthood, and from there onwards they can climb to

become a Bishop, Archbishop, Cardinal and then eventually the Pope, if Elected.

“The Catholic Church ordains only celibate men to the priesthood since Jesus was, it teaches, male

and celibate… …Moreover, the hierarchical nature of Catholicism sets it apart from other Christian

churches. It is a pyramid with the Pope at the top, followed by cardinals (who have the right to elect

a new pope on the death of the current incumbent), archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons and laity.”

(Stanford, 2011)
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Women are not allowed to become members of power in the catholic church. Instead, however,

they can commit themselves to the church, by becoming a nun. A nun usually lives a sheltered life

inside of a convent. A nun will vow her life to the church when she takes the perpetual solemn vows

that make them live a life of poverty, obedience and celibacy.

“A Catholic nun is a woman who lives as a contemplative life in a monastery which is usually

cloistered (or enclosed) or semi-cloistered. Her ministry and prayer life are centred within and around

the monastery for the good of the world. She professes the perpetual solemn vows living a life

according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibacy, and obedience.” (Julie, 2019)

There are six prerequisites that a person must reach before becoming a nun. She must be a catholic

woman, to begin with, as well as this she must be single, have no dependant children, be clear of

debt, be healthy, and between the ages of 18 and 40, however some convents may consider older

applicants on a case-by-case basis.

“Prerequisites for Becoming a Catholic Sister or Nun: A. You must be a Catholic woman. If you are not

Catholic, there are other forms of religious life in Christian communities that are not exclusively

Catholic … B. You must be single. You cannot be currently married in the eyes of the Church. If you

are, you must obtain an annulment in order to consider becoming a nun. Widows may validly become

nuns. C. You must not have any dependent children. There are many women who have children who

become nuns. The children, however, must no longer be dependent. D. You must not have any debts

upon entrance to the novitiate. Novitiate is usually a year or two into the formal process of becoming

a nun. If you do have debts, work to eliminate them. E. You must be healthy. It is important that you

be physically and psychologically able to engage in the mission of the religious community. F. You

must be 18 to 40-ish years old. Although the age limit used to be confined to 18-25, communities

accept women up to age 40, and many accept women beyond their 40s and into their 50s.” (A Nuns

Life, 2012)
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Historians are led to believe that specific buildings for convents and nunneries were first built in the

late 16th century and early 17th century. “New convents for English women were established initially

in the southern Netherlands from 1598, and from 1634 in France.” (Bowden, 2019) It is, however,

extremely difficult to find records of the first open nunneries and convents, as women were far less

likely to own buildings and if they did it would often be undocumented in the early days of

Christianity. “This fact is, though, at least in part the result of the often-haphazard survival of

documents, and not least also the fact that there were simply many more monasteries than

nunneries to have left behind documentation in the first place.” (Stöber, 2016)

This information is important to my character development as Sister Cathrine because it teaches me

the beliefs of the Catholic church, and how nuns are supposed to behave. It also teaches me how a

nun must prepare to join a convent, and how it would be difficult for the nuns to resist temptation

after a life of being able to give into temptation.

Corruption

Corruption is a term used to describe the abuse of power to gain something for oneself. Corruption

breaks the trust of others and strengthens inequality and poverty.

“We define corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Corruption erodes trust,

weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, poverty,

social division and the environmental crisis.” (Transparency International, 2021)

Corruption has also been described to be the improbity or decay in decision making where someone

decides to deviate from the principles which they should base their decision upon.

“Corruption is an improbity or decay in the decision-making process in which a decision-maker

consents to deviate or demands deviation from the criterion which should rule his or her decision-

making, in exchange for a reward or for the promise or expectation of a reward, while these motives
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influencing his or her decision-making cannot be part of the justification of the decision.” (van Duyne,

2011)

Psychologists have studied the psychopathology behind corruption and believe that a person would

start to lean into corruption due to the need for recognition, this want for recognition will make the

person do whatever they feel is right to give them happiness.

“Corruption begins with the seeds of discontent, unhappiness, and the need for recognition. The need

for recognition is a powerful psychological need. Resentment ferments over time until the tipping

point is reached when unhappy people feel compelled to take action to become happy. Corruption

provides the illusion of happiness.” (Schafer Ph.D, 2018)

In 2002 the Boston Globe published an article entitled “Church allowed abuse by priest for years”. It

announced details of how a priest sexually abused children for years and the archdiocese moved him

from parish to parish. “Aware of Geoghan record, archdiocese still shuttled him from parish to

parish” (Rezendes, 2002) John J. Geoghan had abused at least 130 children either by touching them

inappropriately, or by raping them. Most of his victims were young grammar schoolboys, with one of

his victims being as young as four years old.

“Since the mid-1990s, more than 130 people have come forward with horrific childhood tales about

how former priest John J. Geoghan allegedly fondled or raped them during a three-decade spree

through a half-dozen Greater Boston parishes. Almost always, his victims were grammar schoolboys.

One was just 4 years old.” (Rezendes, 2002)

The Cardinal Bernard F. Law knew about Geoghan’s predatory behaviour in 1984, however decided

it was not an issue and approved his transfer to a new parish.

“Cardinal Bernard F. Law knew about Geoghan's problems in 1984, Law's first year in Boston, yet

approved his transfer to St. Julia's parish in Weston. Wilson D. Rogers Jr., the cardinal's attorney,
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defended the move last summer, saying the archdiocese had medical assurances that each Geoghan

reassignment was ‘appropriate and safe.’” (Rezendes, 2002)

The Archdiocese had known about prior predatory behaviour including repeated sexual abuse on

seven boys from the same extended family since 1980. Even with this knowledge they decided to

transfer Geoghan to a new district.

“The archdiocese already had substantial evidence of Geoghan's predatory sexual habits. That

included his assertion in 1980 that his repeated abuse of seven boys in one extended family was not a

"serious" problem, according to an archdiocesan record.” (Rezendes, 2002)

This shows the major amount of corruption within the catholic church, and how often corruption is

normalised within the hierarchy of the catholic church. This helps me understand the normality of

corruption, and rule breaking within the catholic community and how my character would think

nothing is wrong with being able to hold blackmail over someone, because corruption is a norm in

that lifestyle.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is often described as a choice to renounce feelings of resentment or vengeance towards

somebody who has hurt you, regardless of the fact if they deserve forgiveness.

“Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of

resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they

actually deserve your forgiveness.” (Greater Good Magazine, 2019)

Forgiveness is a key theme throughout Christian teachings. The bible teaches that god forgives all

sins apart from blasphemy against the spirit.

“Therefore, I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the

Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be
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forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in

this age, or in the age to come." (Matthew, 12:31-32)

Forgiveness is also shown through the story of The Unmerciful Servant who is unforgiving to a friend

of whom has not paid a debt, when the king had been merciful to him. This ended with him being

imprisoned.

“Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how

often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you,

seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Nuns shows forgiveness in Act Two, Scene Ten when Sister Bernadette comes to Sister Cathrine, as a

ghost, and forgives her for teasing her. This helps develop my character, by making her realise that

her actions have consequences and that she should pay more attention to what she does to others

Mrs Brown’s Boys

Mrs Brown’s Boys is an Irish sitcom that follows the life of Agnes Brown, based on the creator’s

mother. Brendan O’Carroll first originated the role of Agnes Brown in 1992 to fill in a slot on RTE

Radio in Dublin. He didn’t plan on playing the character, until the actress hired to play her did not

show up, from then on, his character was set in stone.

“The character of Mrs Brown started life in 1992 in an Irish radio series. Brendan O’Carroll was filling

in a slot on RTE radio for a friend and thought it might be funny to play a character based on some of

the women he met growing up near the markets and streets of north Dublin. O’Carroll – so goes the

legend – had no intention of playing Agnes himself, until the actress (name unknown) he’d hired

failed to show up to the first recording.” (Dowell, 2020)

Drag is used in Mrs Brown’s Boys in a light fashion, leaning heavily towards a pantomime dame. A

pantomime dame is a female character usually played by a man, wearing poorly fitting attire and

bad makeup. “an exaggerated comedic female character in a pantomime played by a male actor”
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(Collins, 2019). The first pantomime dame appeared in 1806 in the Christmas season pantomime:

Harlequin, and the Mother Goose; or The Golden Egg.

“The first pantomime dame, as we would recognise it in the UK, goes all the way back to the

succinctly named Harlequin, and the Mother Goose; or The Golden Egg performed at the Theatre

Royal in Covent Garden on December 29th, 1806.” (Cherryman, 2020)

This style of comedy and drag relates to nuns, as we are using a slapstick style of comedy, that puts

an emphasis on physic comedy. Daniel and I are also playing women, so this adds an aspect of drag

into the show. We will be wearing minimal makeup, as that is what the group have decided will look

the most humorous.

Sister Act the Musical

Sister Act the Musical is based on the film of the same name. Deloris Van Cartier is the main

character of Sister Act. She is a lounge singer, who after witnessing some traumatic events is placed

on a witness protection programme. For her protection she is moved into a convent.

“Sister Act follows Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer placed on a witness protection programme

which sees her forced to join a convent. The film was adapted for the stage with music by Alan

Menken” (Eventim Apollo, London, n.d.)

The original screen play for Sister Act was written by Paul Rudnick, who visited a real nun, who

started as a lounge singer for inspiration. “Sister Act's screenwriter Paul Rudnick visited her at the

Regina Laudis Abbey in Bethlehem, Connecticut to perform research for the screenplay.” (Ephram-

Ryan Daniels, 2019) The screenplay was adapted for stage by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner,

music was written by Alan Menken and lyrics were written by Glenn Slater. “Book - Cheri

Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner / Music - Alan Menken / Lyrics - Glenn Slater” (StageAgent, n.d.) This

musical is like Nuns, as both shows focus on the lives of nuns, and how easily influenced nuns can

be, however the shows differ greatly.

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Sister Act the Musical differs hugely from nuns. The musical is about a convent trying to get a young

lady, who has worked in a lounge singing and dancing, to convert to being highly religious and frugal,

as she shows the convent how to modernise religion and make it more entertaining and engaging for

younger Christians. This is shown through the song “Raise Your Voice” when Deloris Van Cartier tries

to show the other sisters how to spread the word of the lord “loud and proud”. However, Nuns is

about 4 nuns who want to break out of the catholic church because of the restrictions placed on

them, and through their own actions they learn how to be good Christians whilst also have fun.

Having this information about Sister Act and having watched a production and listened to the music

benefits my role in the production of Nuns by making me realise different ways nuns live their lives

and how they usually live normal lives, but with more responsibilities to ensure they show a good

name for their convent.

I will be using different skills throughout my performance to show my abilities as an actor. Using

vocal skills, I can add comedic effect to the production, when delivering lines. I will use my physical

theatre abilities to be able to add physical comedy into the show, without harming myself or other

cast members, I will also be able to use knowledge from this extended research to help develop my

character and figure out a back story for myself.

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https://anunslife.org/how-to-become-a-nun

Bowden, C. (2019). Convent Schooling for English Girls in the “Exile” Period, 1600–1800. Studies in
Church History, 55(Cambridge University Press), pp.177–204

Cherryman, N. (2020). Five Things You (probably) Didn’t Know about Pantomime Dames. [online]
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