IF THERE is one topic that always gets Christians talking it’s the subject of being single.
Playwright Silvano Griffith-Francis, founder of the Christian drama company SVG Productions, will explore the subject in her new play Life Begins, which will be staged at south London’s Lost Theatre.
Life Begins focuses on four 40+ single Christians who all have their own unique struggles. There’s Rob, a divorcee seeking to reconcile with his wife; Julie, who desperately wants to be married; Steven, who seems destined to be single; and Amanda, who is desperate to have a child.
Silvano was inspired to stage Life Begins after revisiting and extending a short play she wrote a few years ago for a singles event, this time featuring characters that were all over 40 years old.
She explained: “Forty is the age where many people re-evaluate their lives looking at achievements, successes, failures, areas for improvement etc. What if marriage and a family were high on your priority list but you’ve reached this age and you’re still single. What impact would it have?”
She hopes Life Begins will contribute to the ongoing debate about being single. “It does highlight some of the challenges today’s singles are facing that our parents generation would not have. What are some of the practical ways that churches are reaching out to those who are genuinely, deeply hurting? To those who are lonely? Is quoting scripture and giving advice on how to avoid temptation enough?” Silvano reasoned.
Although married, Silvano enjoyed her single life. In fact, she hadn’t expected to get married as she didn’t want children.
She explained: “I made a conscious decision not to put my life on hold until I found a husband. I took four to five holidays a year, I had people over for dinner almost every weekend, I spent time with family, I threw myself into my passion – writing and producing plays. There were times when I felt like I’d really like a significant other in my life but I had to remind myself that I was trusting a God who knows the plans He has for me and if He saw fit for me to be single at that point in my life then I just had to accept He knew what was best.”
Silvano has been writing plays since her school days, and started writing Christian plays after she was not accepted onto the church choir. Since then Silvano has written a play every year. Subjects she’s tackled include eating disorders, homosexuality, domestic abuse and gun culture.
She has big plans for her company. “The vision of SVG productions is to write and produce quality, impacting stage plays that challenge audiences from all walks of life. In time the Christian community will come to recognise us for what we provide – a wholesome, inspiring, entertaining and thought provoking evening at the theatre.”
It’s a vision I’m sure she can achieve.
Life Begins will be staged at the Lost Theatre, Wandsworth Road, London SW8 from 18-23 September, 2012