The Pilgrim's Progress

In 2006 Pointed Arrow took a new play, based on John Bunyan's classic allegory, on a journey back to its roots in Bedford, England.

Simon grew up in Bedford where, just over 300 years earlier, Bunyan had written the controversial story of The Pilgrims Progress whilst imprisoned for preaching without a licence. With the “War on Terror” prompting a national debate about the acceptability of religious expression in public space, Dan decided that this was a story that should be revisited. The 17th century was a time in which the explosive mix of religion and politics led to the English civil war, a conflict in which Bunyan himself fought, perhaps there were lessons to be learned.

The resulting play combined the original story of Christians journey to the Celestial City, Bunyan's biography, and episodes from English history. It was performed in schools, churches and tourist attractions in Yorkshire and London and Bedford.

Our journey took us to the place where Bunyan himself lived, preached and was imprisoned, (including in the church that Bunyan himself established) and also back to the to the childhood roots of one of Pointed Arrow’s performers. We all had different reasons for wanting to make our pilgrimage, but we made it together