London Thinks – The Theology And Ethics Of Star Wars, London
Is the Force, and ergo all religion in general, an instrument for evil or for good? Is Obi-Wan Kenobi really a benevolent, excellently bearded guru of peace or is he a telekinetic harbinger of doom, recruiting impressionable youngsters into terrorism? Are higher powers such as the Force real at all, or is it – as Han Solo famously quipped – all a “lot of simple tricks and nonsense”? These and similar existential quandaries will be mulled over by a panel of humanists, historians, free thinkers and journalists, using George Lucas’s simplistic, morally monochrome fairytale as a springboard for wider theological discourse. And why not? Since JJ Abrams caused a disturbance in the Force with the runaway success of the seventh episode of the franchise last year, events tenuously pegged to all things Far, Far Away have similarly blossomed, but this one appears more cerebral and worthy than most. Plus, the presence of Star Wars on the poster might mean this provides a rare opportunity to trick a child into attending a panel discussion about ethics. How often are you able to do that?
Conway Hall, WC1, Thu
LH
An Evening With Cecelia Ahern, On tour
Naturally, there was some eye-rolling in 2004 when the daughter of Ireland’s then-taoiseach released her debut novel aged 23. However, Cecelia Ahern has since forged her own identity as a heavyweight of popular women’s fiction, penning a further 12 novels, numerous short stories and even a US sitcom, Samantha Who?, which was well-received if short-lived. Two of her bestsellers – PS I Love You and Love, Rosie – have also been adapted for the big screen, the former being particularly successful at the box office. She’s headed into slightly different territory of late with Flawed, her first work aimed at a Young Adult audience. This tour will see her discuss the new book, which tells the story of a young girl ostracised by a perfection-obsessed society. With a film adaptation already in the works, this dystopian tale could well reach Hunger Games levels of ubiquity.
Waterstones Birmingham, Mon; Waterstones Liverpool, Tue; Waterstones Kensington, W8, Wed
HJD
Simon Callow: Orson Welles – One Man Band, On tour
On the basis of his acting, Simon Callow has never seemed like a man who would do anything by halves. Suitably, then, during his prolific career, he has found time to write three hefty volumes documenting the life of Orson Welles. The latest of these, subtitled One Man Band, was published just before Christmas and Callow is setting out on a tour in support. This doesn’t sound like any old promotional junket, though; Callow is clearly both an authority and a huge fan of Welles and presumably his considerable thespian chops will be brought to bear on the task of animating the book on stage. Each talk, he says, has an individual flavour of its own and depends for its unique energy on the engagement of the audience. So expect anything but an evening of dry readings as Britain’s very own one-man band steps out.
Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, Sat; Norwich Playhouse, Mon; Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre For The Arts, Tue; Lyceum Theatre, Crewe, Wed; Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Thu; touring to 9 Apr
PH
