The Ale House Arts 9th April 16th April Saint Mary Magdalene in Scripture, Myth & Art “A Literary Trail around the Malverns” By Jenny Purser By Mary Constable Mary Magdalene, the “Apostle to the Apostles”, has always been a much venerated saint and admirable role model. If she could repent and achieve sainthood, so could anyone. However there is no evidence that she was a prostitute. In this illustrated talk, we shall see how three Marys have been conflated into one woman and how this composite Mary Magdalene has been depicted by artists through the ages. Mary Constable would like to share with you the poetry that inspired her to write “A Literary Trail around the Malverns”. £5 £6 (entry fee includes a book of poetry) 30th April 14th May R. S. Thomas Who Wrote the Complete Works of William Shakespeare? by Nicholas Menon RS Thomas was one of the most significant poets writing in English in the second half of the twentieth century. An Anglican priest, he was fiercely Welsh. His large output of poetry explores such themes as Welshness and the struggle between modern science and religious faith in a voice characteristically his own £5 by Nigel Turner He wrote at least thirty seven plays, two long narrative poems, and a sonnet sequence of one hundred and fifty four poems - all in the space of around twenty three years. The four hundredth anniversary of his death will occur next year. Everyone knows his name; his genius is celebrated all over the world. But who was he? What do we know about him? And how sure can we be that his Complete Works were actually completed by him? £5 All proceeds in aid of St James church The Ale House, St. James Church, Colwall Each Talk starts at 7.30pm ; Season Ticket available at £15 for all four talks Tickets available from: John Goodwin Estate Agent, Colwall or The Parish Office Colwall, 01684 540330