Church Readings

David Bennent, age 33, has been an actor since the age of twelve, when he played

"oskar Matzareth" in the internationally acclaimed film "The Tin Drum." Recently, he

read religious texts as part of a concert series  "Paradisi Gloria," in Munich.

He carried forth, upon his voice, the words within the concert.

Question: How did it happen, that you came to be a speaker in a church concert?

David: Someone simply asked me. I always find it very beautiful to perform readings instead of

only performing in theater productions. A few years ago, I began to do readings of

Hoelderlin and Heiner Mueller, in performances with my father. Reading religious texts

in a church is a new and beautiful experience for me.

Question: What fascinated you about the writings of Buber, Messiaen and Saint Exupéry?

David: I found the psalms of Buber linguistically beautiful. What is said there, meets with my heart.

Life has much to do with the spirit.

Question: How do you keep religion free, when it is so often fought over?

David: That is very difficult. I do not dare to say that I am religious, although I am

baptized as a Catholic. Sometimes I go to a church in Paris. The priest there was very close

to me, and I could believe in him personally. But he died two years ago. And I need someone,

I can follow personally in a religious relationship. Otherwise I am all alone in empty

churches. I am there only for me and my dearest peace.

Question: What role does faith play amongst actors?

David: That depends upon where and with whom one works. There are some actors whose faith

is very important and they go to church regularly. Then there are also some actors who want

nothing to do with it at all.

Question: Is there any particular play you would consider religious?

David: Here I must think of Beckett. Although he attacked religion and God, his