Pope Joan

A new dramatization of the 9th century Germanic legend of a female Pope. A brilliant young woman, Joan who steals her brothers identity, and flees to Rome in order to follow a spiritual vocation in the Catholic Church. She is quickly hailed a genius, climbs through the Vatican ranks, and rules over the Christian world for two years. Told through the eyes of her lover, a gentle hearted librarian, Pope Joan tells...
A new dramatization of the 9th century Germanic legend of a female Pope. A brilliant young woman, Joan who steals her brothers identity, and flees to Rome in order to follow a spiritual vocation in the Catholic Church. She is quickly hailed a genius, climbs through the Vatican ranks, and rules over the Christian world for two years. Told through the eyes of her lover, a gentle hearted librarian, Pope Joan tells a story of absolution, legitimacy of purpose, and the importance of finding our own spiritual identities
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Pope Joan

Recommended by

  • Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos:
    25 Apr. 2020
    I don’t know how it is I’m the first to review this play, but I feel like I dug up a diamond. Boynton’s heart wrenching and tangible imagining of the first and only female Pope offers us a poignantly impossible love story, a lesson in gender studies, and fully wrought characters all wrapped up in a language that’s beautifully elegant, sophisticated, and smart. This play wrestles with many themes, all of which are intellectually choreographed brilliantly by the writer. High theatricality and intense drama, with such an economy of effort (seemingly) is a wonder. Highly recommended!

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Brian Christopher Wolk Playwriting Award - Nomination
    ,
    2010
  • Workshop
    ,
    InCite Arts Festival
    ,
    2009