Paradise

"I have been in the Heaven that takes up most of his light, and saw things there that those who descend from that height cannot speak of or forget..." Led by his guide Beatrice, Dante leaves the Earth behind and soars through the heavenly spheres of Paradise. In this third and final part of The Divine Comedy, he encounters the just rulers and holy saints of the Church. The horrors of the Inferno and the trials ofPurgatory are left far behind. Ultimately, in Paradise, Dante is granted a vision of God's Heavenly court -- the angels, the Blessed Virgin and God Himself. As poet, playwright and actor, Heathcote Williams has made a significant contribution to many fields. He is best known for his extended poems on environmental subjects, Whale Nation, Fallingfor a Dolphin, and Sacred Elephant. But his plays have also won acclaim, notably AC/DC, produced at London's Royal Court, and Hancock's Last Half Hour. As an actor he has been equally versatile -- among his most memorable roles was Prospero in Derek Jarmen's film of The Tempest.