The Leaveners + Jeanmarie Simpson say Farewell to the New World on February 8

BRIGHTON, U.K. - Feb. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- In what is certain to be among this year’s most stimulating theatre events, The Leaveners will present Jeanmarie Simpson in dozens of performances across the UK and Europe beginning mid February.

Finishing up a limited tour of the southwest United States followed by a single Toronto performance, The Leaveners and Simpson are sparing no time in taking their exciting new partnership across the pond.

Performances are in dozens of venues throughout the UK and Continent  that include Quaker meeting houses and other public spaces. All shows are presented at no cost to audience members, though donations are welcomed and encouraged.

Why so much interest in ‘Mary’s Joy,’ a play about the life of a woman who died more than 350 years ago?

‘People have been judged on their religions throughout time, with prejudice, marginalization and prosecution impacting our sense of religious freedom,” said tour coordinator, Jorine Beck. Beck is the Leaveners’ programme director. “In the light of current events and heated debates with religion in the spotlight, the play ‘Mary’s Joy’ could not have come at a better time,” she continued. “What can we learn from Mary Dyer’s history today? How determined would we choose to defend our morals when this means risking to lose what we love? In line with the Leaveners’ mission, we hope to inspire audiences to think and talk about these themes after seeing this stunning performance by Jeanmarie Simpson.”

Simpson is Founding Artistic Director of the Nevada Shakespeare Company. She wrote and performed hundreds of times the play “A Single Woman,” about the life of the first US Congresswoman and pacifist Jeannette Rankin. She starred in the film version that featured Judd Nelson, the voices of Martin Sheen and Patricia Arquette, and the music of Joni Mitchell. In 2007, she appeared at the historic Beverly Hills Theater 40 in the American premier of the solo tour-de-force “Shakespeare Will,” produced by Leonard Nimoy. She is highly regarded for her performance portraits of heroic women in modern and historic times.

The Leaveners' mission is to inspire and transform lives, fulfilling their mission by delivering eclectic programmes of arts-based workshops and events that draw on Quaker values to explore issues relating to human rights, social justice, peace and spirituality. Through participatory drama, music and visual arts activities The Leaveners aim to create opportunities for people of any faith and none to discover their potential power to effect change.

SCHEDULE (more details to come)

February 8 2015 - Toronto Friends Meeting

February 15 - Brighton Friends Meeting

Half February- Half March 2015 South-Mid England and Mid England

Half March- End March 2015 North England

April 2015 Finland, Ireland, Norway

May 2015 Mid-England and Wales

June 2015 Devon, Somerset and London

July 2015 Jersey, France, Germany.

August TBA

September 1-December 31 Washington/Oregon (US)