Yellow Bellies Audio Drama

Do you occasionally spend time contemplating how you can live out your ethical and spiritual commitments?  Do you wonder how you would respond if your moral compass led you into territory where your beliefs had profound consequences?

We invite you to join a set of Zoom-based discussions to address these questions, and others.  The primary content will focus on an Audio Drama series, called “Yellow Bellies,” based on a play that Theatre of the Beat produced.  The show is a historical drama that focusses on the experiences (and the public responses) to Mennonite conscientious objectors (COs) during World War II.  While the drama highlights the stories of Mennonite COs, the issues that are raised are more universal, and raise questions about how any of us (whatever our social connections) live out our values.

“Yellow Bellies” was written by Johnny Wideman and Rebecca Steiner.  It was commissioned for the 2016 Global Mennonite Peace Building Conference.  Part of the script is taken directly from the letters and interviews of people who were conscientious objectors.  Theatre of the Beat has transformed the play into an Audio Drama, to be used during these unusual times.

The discussions will be held on three successive Mondays, November 2, 9 and 16.  There will be two parts to each session in the series.

• Part 1 will start at 7:15 pm, and we will play the audio program (along with archival and show photos!) for that week. Or listen on your own any time (links below). 
• Part 2, which will start at 8:00 pm, will be a guided discussion of the issues addressed in the program, and the broader implications of those themes. 
• We expect this discussion to clue up around 8:45 pm.

There will be a separate Zoom login for each of the sessions (linked below).

If you are interested in participating, send a note to Leah Harder at cmchurch.info@gmail.com, and we will send you a link to the audio programs, and the Zoom links for the discussion sessions, or keep checking this website.

There is no charge for this series.  If you have any further questions, or if you know of someone who would appreciate being part of these discussions, get in touch with us at cmchurch.info@gmail.com.

Links to Join

7:15pm Listening Party: Link to join

8:00pm Discussion: Link to join

Week One (Nov 2) watch with production photos here, or audio only here.

Week Two (Nov 9) watch with production photos here, or audio only here.

Week Three (Nov 16) watch with production photos here, or audio only here.