SEDOS

The play tells the story of Father Urbain Grandier, a young, educated, charming priest. People from around the country are drawn to the small city of Loudun to hear him speak. When he turns down the position of head priest at St Ursula’s Convent, the convent’s prioress takes umbrage, avenging herself by claiming possession by devils set upon her by Grandier. The hysteria becomes widespread, letting Grandier’s enemies make an example of him by putting him to trial for consorting with the Devil.

The source material, Aldous Huxley’s book ‘The Devils of Loudun’, centres on the historical narrative of supposed demonic possession, religious fanaticism, sexual repression and mass hysteria surrounding unexplained events in 17th century France. The events led to several public exorcisms, as well as executions by burning.