Bluffton University will present a readers theatre titled, “I Have Not Forsaken the Word of God: Jacques d’Auchy’s Confessional Struggle,” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 in Ramseyer Theatre.
 
This dramatic performance displays key spiritual and theological dialogues recorded in the “Martyrs Mirror” between Anabaptist martyr Jacques d’Auchy and religious officials who interrogated him prior to his execution in 1559. The script for this readers theatre was written by Carrie and Gerald Mast to celebrate the recent discovery of the original 1685 copper etching plate created by Jan Luyken to illustrate the story of Jacques d’Auchy. The performance will be directed by Dr. Melissa Friesen, professor of theatre and communication.
 
The readers theatre is part of a series of events that are being held in coordination with the travelling exhibit “Mirror of the Martyrs,” which will be on display from Oct. 1-Nov. 5 in the Albrecht Gallery of Bluffton’s Sauder Visual Arts Center.
 
This dramatic and colorful exhibit tells the story of religious conflict and violence in the Reformation era from the perspective of Anabaptist martyrs and offers one way to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
 
Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday, 1-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
 
The Mirror of the Martyrs exhibit is based on illustrated martyr stories from the 1685 “Martyrs Mirror,” and features eight of the original copper plates produced by Dutch artist Jan Luyken to illustrate the book. The exhibit allows visitors to learn about Mennonite religious heritage and its application to people’s contemporary lives. The award-winning exhibit was developed and produced at the Kauffman Museum in North Newton Kansas.
 
For more information about additional exhibit related presentations and performances visit http://www.bluffton.edu/arts/mirror/
 
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.