Written On The Heart at the Swan Theatre, Stratford

Written On The Heart, Swan Theatre, Stratford, until March 10. Running time: 2hrs 35mins.

Im a bishop’s palace in 1610 devoted men work on King James’s project... the creation of the ultimate Bible in English to enable ordinary men to read the word of God.

But there are rows and debates about every word and phrase the 54 translators should use and Lancelot Andrewes, the Bishop of Ely seems uncertain in directing them.

The scene moves back to Flanders of 1536, and John Tyndale, who has already translated the Bible and is soon to die for his cause.

Then we’re in Yorkshire in 1586, and the young Lancelot Andrewes, as the Queen’s Chaplain, is visiting a church where there are suggestions the faithful have still not given up their “Pope-ish” ways.

Andrewes is later tormented by his past – in the form of Tyndale’s ghost, and memories of his imprisonment of the clerk, but the King James Bible finally finds the way forward.

The complicated story is excellently acted and the scenery is dramatic. There’s some obvious signposting for those who don’t know the full story. A Yorkshire churchwarden helpfully describes the swings between the Catholic Church and reform from Henry VIII to Elizabeth, and in most scenes a character clumsily finds a reason to introduce all the players on stage.

It is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible and writer David Edgar’s play, directed by Gregory Doran, well explores the tumult of the Reformation and the devotion of all involved.

Ironically, part of the programme exploring the legacy of the bible is written by Giles Fraser, Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s who resigned last week. Showing even today nothing is certain in the church.

Rating * * *

[Review by Julie Chamberlain]