Doubt, A Parable at Dundee Rep review: 'quietly thrilling evocation'
This is a red rag for Sister Aloysius, who rules the school with a tight-lipped authoritarianism that won't allow room for any new ways of thinking, whatever Vatican 2 might say. This leads her to embark on a campaign against Father Flynn with the intent of ousting him from office. To do this, she manipulates her young charge Sister James into reluctant complicity with her damning claims regarding Father Flynn's alleged conduct before what is effectively a trial by hearsay ensues.
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This makes for an intense ninety minutes in Joanna Bowman's concentrated production, as Shanley's spare text is passed between the four people on stage like increasingly poisoned sacraments. Designer Jessica Worrall's brutalist interior provides sanctuary for confession and conspiracy alike, with the only breath of fresh air coming from the occasional glimpse of a tree outside that marks the changing seasons. Each scene is punctuated by dramatic chorales brought to the fore by sound designer Richard Bell in a way that ramps up the play's all too earthly stakes.
Ann Louise Ross makes for a deadly and unforgiving Sister Aloysius, with Michael Dylan giving as good as he gets as a steely Father Flynn. As Sister Aloysius turns him into a bogeyman, Emma Tracey lays bare Sister James' awakening from innocent idealism to the harsh realities of the political game she's caught up in. Mercy Ojelade adds further complications to an already volatile mix as Mrs Muller, the mother of the only black child in the school, and whose relationship with Father Flynn kick-starts Sister Aloysius' obsession. In the end, what actually did or didn't happen is never revealed in a quietly thrilling evocation of ideological power plays in which the only thing sacrificed is the truth.
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Bizarre theory around Trisha Paytas' superhero-inspired name of third baby
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So, of course, it follows that Trisha's next baby would contain the cosmic spark of another British icon, albeit on the opposite end of the spectrum. As a result, yesterday, when she announced the birth of her third child, Aquaman Moses Paytas-Hacmon (no, seriously, that's what she named her human baby), on the same day that the news broke that Ozzy Osbourne died at 76, people just about snapped their thumbs rushing to reshare the baby announcement with the caption: 'Welcome back Ozzy Osbourne.' Adding another layer to the melee, Trisha named her new baby Aquaman – a direct nod to the DC superhero portrayed by Jason Momoa in the 2018 film. In a surreal twist of pop culture synchronicity, Momoa hosted Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath farewell concert just 16 days before Osbourne's death was announced. The coincidences have been far too much for some people to handle rationally, some of whom now seem earnestly convinced that Trisha Paytas' womb is a portal of reincarnation. 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2 days ago
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The castle overlooks Royal Portrush Golf Club and featured in Game of Thrones. The wild, windswept coastline of County Antrim offered a spectacular setting for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club at the weekend. US golfer Scottie Scheffler took home the iconic Claret Jug after comfortably winning the sport's oldest tournament. But it wasn't just the action on the course that piqued the interest of sports fans, as the competition was played against a backdrop steeped in history and drama. Reporting live on BBC Radio 5 Live on the second morning of the tournament, presenter Kat Downes painted a vivid picture for listeners as she described the eighth hole. She said: 'On the eighth green, this par four that bends around a shelf in the sand dunes, it sits up above the seventh heading in the other direction back out towards the Giant's Causeway in the distance. 'You can see the ruins of Dunluce Castle, 13th century, perched up on the cliffs like something from the set of Game of Thrones.' Indeed, the iconic ruin has long captured imaginations and was even featured in the hit HBO fantasy drama as the stronghold of House Greyjoy in Pyke on the Iron Islands. Although digitally enhanced for the show with towering stacks, rope bridges and stone walkways, the real Dunluce Castle needs no visual effects to make an impression. Built in the 13th century atop a basalt outcrop with sheer cliffs plunging into the Atlantic on all sides, Dunluce is linked to the mainland by a narrow bridge. Its dramatic location and storied past rival any fictional setting. The castle was originally held by the McQuillan family, lords of a medieval territory known as 'the Route'. Later, it passed into the hands of the Lords of the Isles and eventually to the powerful Scottish clans MacDonald of Dunnyveg and MacDonnell of Antrim, descendants of John Mor MacDonald, great-grandson of Robert the Bruce. In 1584, the formidable Somhairle Buíodh MacDonnell, also known as Sorley Boy MacDonnell or Somerled of the Yellow Hair, seized the castle and surrounding lands. After pledging loyalty to Elizabeth I, he was confirmed as the first Earl of Antrim by King James I and VI. Sorley Boy remodelled the fortress in the Scottish style, establishing it as a seat of power. In 1588, one of the Spanish Armada's ships was wrecked nearby. The castle's gatehouse was later equipped with cannons salvaged from the vessel, and its cargo was sold to fund further restoration efforts. Throughout the turbulent 17th century, the Catholic MacDonnells played an active role in British and Irish conflicts. After the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, however, the family's fortunes declined, and Dunluce began its slow descent into ruin. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Beneath its crumbling remains lies a darker history. In 2011, archaeologists uncovered the lost town of Dunluce, once a thriving settlement of streets and homes destroyed during the Irish uprising of 1641. It had remained buried for centuries. Over time, the castle has inspired artists, writers and musicians alike. It is widely believed to have influenced CS Lewis in his creation of Cair Paravel in The Chronicles of Narnia . In 1973, a panoramic image of the castle featured in the inner sleeve of Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy album, accompanied by the eerie cover shot of naked children climbing the nearby Giant's Causeway. More recently, Dunluce Castle returned to the international stage in July 2024 when it hosted the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Athletes hurled themselves from the surrounding 20 metre cliffs into the chilly Atlantic waters below, adding another chapter to the site's ever-evolving legacy.
