No Worst There Is None


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A radio version of No Worst There Is None by The Stomach Box adapted and directed by Dylan Tighe and composed by Sean Mac Erlaine. A sonic journey into the psyche of Hopkins as he approaches death – fusing poetry, an original choral score, electronic sound design and found texts. A unique listening experience for one in the bedroom where the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins lived in Newman House Dublin in the 1880’s.   Starring Will O’Connell as Gerard Manley Hopkins and David Heap as Cardinal John Henry Newman, the piece also features the singers of Dublin Choral Foundation and St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, under the musical direction of Ite O Donovan, and Peter Barley respectively. Winner of the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Production and nominated for Best Director and Best Sound. RTÉ Radio 1 Drama On One Sunday 12th January 2014 The Poem: 'No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief.' By Gerard Manley Hopkins No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief, More pangs will, schooled at forepangs, wilder wring. Comforter, where, where is your comforting? Mary, mother of us, where is your relief? My cries heave, herds-long; huddle in a main, a chief Woe, wórld-sorrow; on an áge-old anvil wince and sing — Then lull, then leave off. Fury had shrieked 'No ling- ering! Let me be fell: force I must be brief."' O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed. Hold them cheap May who ne'er hung there. Nor does long our small Durance deal with that steep or deep. Here! creep, Wretch, under a comfort serves in a whirlwind: all Life death does end and each day dies with sleep. Source: Gerard Manley Hopkins: Poems and Prose (Penguin Classics, 1985)

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.