“They will try to tell you that power belongs only to those who already hold it. But look closer, and you’ll see that it can rise from the most unexpected places — even a teenage girl who refuses to be silent.”
In this bold and visually arresting reimagining of Saint Joan, director and designer Stewart Laing brings George Bernard Shaw’s iconic play into sharp contemporary focus. This 2026 production explores the extraordinary courage of a young woman who challenged political, religious and military authority — a teenager whose conviction reshaped the course of European history.
At seventeen, Joan of Arc steps forward with an unshakeable sense of purpose. She speaks with clarity, acts with certainty, and inspires those around her to believe that another future is possible. Her rise unsettles the men who guard the old order — kings, bishops, generals — and forces them to reckon with a world in which the unlikeliest of figures can become a revolutionary force.
Laing’s staging blends live performance with filmic projection, dynamic sound design, and visually striking digital sequences, pulling audiences into Joan’s inner world — her visions, her battles, and her growing isolation. The production examines timeless questions of power, justice and identity, placing Joan’s struggle within a modern framework that echoes today’s youth-led movements and the global demand for change.
The production stars Mandipa Kabanda as Joan, offering a powerful, contemporary interpretation of a character who remains fiercely relevant. She is joined by an accomplished creative team, including filmmaker Adura Onashile (film sequence writer/director), Michaella Fee (lighting), and Yaseen Clarke (sound), with digital projection work by Daniel Hughes. Their combined craft builds a hybrid theatrical world where past and present collide.
Produced by Raw Material, Perth Theatre and Aberdeen Performing Arts, in association with Citizens Theatre, this retelling is both faithful to Shaw’s original ideas and newly alive with 21st-century urgency.
With themes of conviction, resistance, leadership and the cost of speaking truth to power, Saint Joan offers a resonant experience for audiences — especially in a cultural moment where young voices continue to shape national and global conversations.
Performances:
Wed 18 Mar — 7.30pm
Thu 19 Mar — 7.30pm
Fri 20 Mar — 7.30pm
Sat 21 Mar — 2.30pm & 7.30pm
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