Cadaver Synod the Play

Holy corpses on trial. Horny clergy members. A whole lot of dead pigeons. Like all good parables, some of this actually happened.

In 897 AD Rome, newly elected Pope Stephen is haunted by the legacy of his predecessor, Formosus, whose corrupt papacy decimated the Church’s public image. Amidst pressures from the King of Italy, a suspicious number of cardinals “falling” down the Vatican stairs, and the antics of horny cardinals, Pope Stephen faces an impossible dilemma: either bring the corpse of Formosus to trial posthumously and face eternal damnation, or stay faithful and risk political assassination. As Stephen’s morality waivers, so does his grip on reality, resulting in a bloody crescendo of chaos.

This bold debut by writer Ruby Blinkhorn teeters on a knife-edge between tragedy and hilarity, simultaneously theatricalising the campness of Catholicism and critcising institutional abuses of power. Based (loosely) on true historical events, the play is funny, sexy and cutting - the church would hate it.

Directed by Mathew Lee, featuring a cast of Nat Jobe, Luke Fewster, Yasna Delo, Mark Langham, Leon Walshe and Diego Retamales. KXT on Broadway, 27 May – 6 June.