Forever Mine Theatre Tour - March 2023
(Produced by Living Breath Productions)
The Tour
Kildare: Wednesday 22 March at 7.30pm - St Brigid's Cathedral, Market Square, Kildare. BOOK NOW
Cork: Thursday 23 March at 7.30pm - The Carraig Centre, Old Fort Rd, Ballincollig, Cork: Phone: (021) 4877260
Web: www.carraigcentre.ie BOOK NOW
Longford: Friday 24 March at 7.30pm - St. John's Church, Longford. BOOK NOW
Sligo: Saturday 25 March at 7.30pm - St John's Cathedral, Sligo. BOOK NOW
Cavan: Sunday 26 March at 7.30pm - Kilmore Cathedral (no booking required). Donations appreciated on the night.
Dublin: Tuesday 28 March at 7.30pm - Crinken Church, Shankhill, Dublin. BOOK NOW
Banbridge: Wednesday 29 March at 7.30pm - Magherally Parish Church, Banbridge, Co Down. BOOK NOW
Donemana: Thursday 30 March at 7.30pm - St. James' Donagheady (parish hall), Donemana, Strabane. BOOK NOW
Derry / Londonderry: Friday 31 March at 7.30pm - St. Augustine's Church BOOK NOW (very limited availability) BOOK NOW
Buncrana: Saturday 1 April at 7.30pm - Tour Finale St. Mary's Hall, Buncrana, Co Donegal. BOOK NOW
Group Bookings: Why not consider taking a group to see “Forever Mine” at the venue nearest to you? Contact us to find out more:
Cork: Thursday 23 March at 7.30pm - The Carraig Centre, Old Fort Rd, Ballincollig, Cork: Phone: (021) 4877260
Web: www.carraigcentre.ie BOOK NOW
Longford: Friday 24 March at 7.30pm - St. John's Church, Longford. BOOK NOW
Sligo: Saturday 25 March at 7.30pm - St John's Cathedral, Sligo. BOOK NOW
Cavan: Sunday 26 March at 7.30pm - Kilmore Cathedral (no booking required). Donations appreciated on the night.
Dublin: Tuesday 28 March at 7.30pm - Crinken Church, Shankhill, Dublin. BOOK NOW
Banbridge: Wednesday 29 March at 7.30pm - Magherally Parish Church, Banbridge, Co Down. BOOK NOW
Donemana: Thursday 30 March at 7.30pm - St. James' Donagheady (parish hall), Donemana, Strabane. BOOK NOW
Derry / Londonderry: Friday 31 March at 7.30pm - St. Augustine's Church BOOK NOW (very limited availability) BOOK NOW
Buncrana: Saturday 1 April at 7.30pm - Tour Finale St. Mary's Hall, Buncrana, Co Donegal. BOOK NOW
Group Bookings: Why not consider taking a group to see “Forever Mine” at the venue nearest to you? Contact us to find out more:
Forever Mine
On 1 January 1773, in a small church in Olney, England the congregation sang a new hymn written by their minister to illustrate his New Year’s Day sermon. Two hundred and fifty years later, Amazing Grace is the world’s best loved hymn and one of the most-recorded songs of all time.
In this anniversary year, we invite you to share this remarkable story. Forever Mine is an original stage play and costume drama explorig the two great loves of John Newton’s life – his love for God and his love for “Polly” (his nickname for his wife Mary). Based on their love letters and on letters, diaries and historical writings, Forever Mine is a true story of separation and reunion, death and new life, loss and redemption. Although set in the 18th century, this moving narrative will resonate with modern audiences.
While focusing on Polly and Newton’s love story, Forever Mine also looks honestly at John Newton’s role in the slave trade even for six years after his conversion. It traces his slow journey to repentance and his later work supporting the campaign for abolition as mentor to William Wilberforce. Forever Mine elevates the lesser known voices of the abolition movement such as black writer Olaudah Equiano and the poet William Cowper.
In this anniversary year, we invite you to share this remarkable story. Forever Mine is an original stage play and costume drama explorig the two great loves of John Newton’s life – his love for God and his love for “Polly” (his nickname for his wife Mary). Based on their love letters and on letters, diaries and historical writings, Forever Mine is a true story of separation and reunion, death and new life, loss and redemption. Although set in the 18th century, this moving narrative will resonate with modern audiences.
While focusing on Polly and Newton’s love story, Forever Mine also looks honestly at John Newton’s role in the slave trade even for six years after his conversion. It traces his slow journey to repentance and his later work supporting the campaign for abolition as mentor to William Wilberforce. Forever Mine elevates the lesser known voices of the abolition movement such as black writer Olaudah Equiano and the poet William Cowper.
Meet the Cast
Forever Mine is brought to life by a stellar cast of professional actors starring Ellis J Wells as John Newton. Ellis J Wells’ theatre credits include Col. Pickering in "Pygmalion" (Tour of Italy), Christopher Wren in "the Mousetrap" (New York, USA), Dr. Watson in "the Accidental Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", the title role in "Richard III" and "the Scarlet Pimpernel", Cardinal Richelieu in "the Three Musketeers" and Caliban in "the Tempest".
Forever Mine also stars Susie Garvey-Williams as Polly Newton. Susie’s most recent theatre credits include Viola/Sebastian in “12th Night Lite” – which received a 4-star review at Edinburgh Fringe 2022, as well as Jane Goodall in “STEM Theatre in a Box”, Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Kitty in “A Weaver’s Thread” and a cameo appearance as Grainne O’Malley in “The Pirate Queen” supporting Greasepaint Productions’ show “Musicality”.
Gideon Asuming will bring to life the abolitionist Olaudah Equiano as well as the lesser-known James Gronniosaw. Performing since 2010, Gideon has played multiple lead and supporting roles on stage and screen. His credits include And There Was War, After the Storm and My Place as well as Jesus Christ in multiple Living Breath film productions.
Ryan Moss is a passionate character actor who is absolutely thrilled to be appearing in Forever Mine as William Cowper and William Wilberforce. Previous credits include; Arthur Cabbage in “Your Country Needs You”, Colin Humperdinck in “Robin Hood”, Max in “The Legend of Grimm’s Tales”, Charlie Chaplin in “Tonight at the museum, Charlie Chaplin”, Raleigh in “Journeys end”, Ben in the “Dumb Waiter”, Freddy in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and Joe Casey in “Our House”.
Forever Mine also stars Susie Garvey-Williams as Polly Newton. Susie’s most recent theatre credits include Viola/Sebastian in “12th Night Lite” – which received a 4-star review at Edinburgh Fringe 2022, as well as Jane Goodall in “STEM Theatre in a Box”, Jasmine in “Aladdin” and Kitty in “A Weaver’s Thread” and a cameo appearance as Grainne O’Malley in “The Pirate Queen” supporting Greasepaint Productions’ show “Musicality”.
Gideon Asuming will bring to life the abolitionist Olaudah Equiano as well as the lesser-known James Gronniosaw. Performing since 2010, Gideon has played multiple lead and supporting roles on stage and screen. His credits include And There Was War, After the Storm and My Place as well as Jesus Christ in multiple Living Breath film productions.
Ryan Moss is a passionate character actor who is absolutely thrilled to be appearing in Forever Mine as William Cowper and William Wilberforce. Previous credits include; Arthur Cabbage in “Your Country Needs You”, Colin Humperdinck in “Robin Hood”, Max in “The Legend of Grimm’s Tales”, Charlie Chaplin in “Tonight at the museum, Charlie Chaplin”, Raleigh in “Journeys end”, Ben in the “Dumb Waiter”, Freddy in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and Joe Casey in “Our House”.
About the production team
Producers: Living Breath Productions is a video and theatre production company founded by Susie Garvey-Williams and Ben Driver in 2020 to bring the Bible to life with high quality videos of Bible passages – see www.livingbreathproductions.com.
Writers: Forever Mine was written by mother-and-daughter team Ruth and Susie Garvey-Williams after years of research into the story of John Newton and Amazing Grace. The play incorporates original letters, diaries, autobiographies and parliamentary speeches, bringing to life the actual words written or spoken by the historical characters portrayed.
Director: With 30 years of experience writing, directing and choreographing multiple community and professional theatre productions, Ruth Garvey-Williams loves to bring history to life, re-telling true stories through the medium of theatre and film. She is delighted to be the director of Forever Mine - working with such a talented cast to bring this moving story to Irish audiences.
Technical Director: Benjamin Driver is a videographer with a First Class Honours Degree in Television and Film Production and more recently touring with as Technical Director with a theatre company.
Musical Director: The original score of Forever Mine has been composed by musician Hilary Kemp.
Set Design: Artist Andrew Garvey-Williams was delighted to create the purpose-designed set for Forever Mine including a painstakingly hand-crafted ship's wheel.
Costume Design: The authentic period costumes for Forever Mine were created by Ruth Garvey-Williams and Emma Porter.
Producers: Living Breath Productions is a video and theatre production company founded by Susie Garvey-Williams and Ben Driver in 2020 to bring the Bible to life with high quality videos of Bible passages – see www.livingbreathproductions.com.
Writers: Forever Mine was written by mother-and-daughter team Ruth and Susie Garvey-Williams after years of research into the story of John Newton and Amazing Grace. The play incorporates original letters, diaries, autobiographies and parliamentary speeches, bringing to life the actual words written or spoken by the historical characters portrayed.
Director: With 30 years of experience writing, directing and choreographing multiple community and professional theatre productions, Ruth Garvey-Williams loves to bring history to life, re-telling true stories through the medium of theatre and film. She is delighted to be the director of Forever Mine - working with such a talented cast to bring this moving story to Irish audiences.
Technical Director: Benjamin Driver is a videographer with a First Class Honours Degree in Television and Film Production and more recently touring with as Technical Director with a theatre company.
Musical Director: The original score of Forever Mine has been composed by musician Hilary Kemp.
Set Design: Artist Andrew Garvey-Williams was delighted to create the purpose-designed set for Forever Mine including a painstakingly hand-crafted ship's wheel.
Costume Design: The authentic period costumes for Forever Mine were created by Ruth Garvey-Williams and Emma Porter.