A PERFORMANCE of The Midnight Court scheduled for Good Friday night has drawn criticism from a Church of Ireland rector in Galway.
Canon Robert MacCarthy, Rector of St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, said he was astonished that "there is a performance of the The Midnight Court of all things", on that night.
He said he felt obliged to put up a flag for people who considered themselves to be practising Christians, who might feel that it was not "the appropriate thing to do". Christian leaders had a role in highlighting such concern.
"This is a day when no one who claims the name of Christian would think of being present at such an entertainment, and I presume therefore that the management of the theatre hopes to fill it with non Christians.
"But assuming that there may be practising Christians on the staff of the theatre, the question arises, are they going to be obliged to work against the diktats of conscience?" he added.
Canon MacCarthy noted that there was also a possibility that people might go to the performance in order to get a drink, because the theatre's liquor licence allows the sale of alcohol on Good Friday.
The theatre's manager, Mr Michael Diskin, said that Druid Theatre had performed in the city in the past on Good Friday and there had been no objections. He had consulted staff before proceeding. There would be no problem if a worker wanted to go a religious service. "It is not our intent ion to cause offence," he said.
On drink being served, Mr Diskin said that the bar at the theatre was open for a very short period and to theatre patrons only.