Romero

There are several versions and adaptations. “Romero” was performed at Worth in 1982 and a revised version in 1992. The play was performed by The Oratory, Cranbrook School, Click Productions in London, and in Guildford Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral. A Musical Suite version was performed at Worth. The life story of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador is inspiring. El Salvador was a microcosm and a crucible for many of the most intense conflicts of the time. The struggle between the USA and the USSR was played out in the local, vicious civil war between the ARENA Party on the right and the guerillas on the left. In a Catholic dominated country, the Church had to play its part. It was a test case for Vatican 2 and for the battle between old-school Catholicism and Liberation theology. Romero found himself at the centre of the storm. He played his part with admirable integrity and courage until he was shot dead at the altar. We wrote a musical account of his life built around the structure of the Mass, For the updated version 10 years later, we added in the story of Jean Donovan and the other nuns who were raped and murdered by a Death Squad. A few days before the first performance another Death Squad attacked the Jesuit University in San Salvador, killing many teachers and several innocent civilians. The Head of the Jesuits came to the opening night at Worth with several El Salvadoreans to tell their story.