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Passion Plays also take place across the globe, in various countries at various times throughout each year.
Here is a list of the plays that we are aware of. If we have missed any out, please let us know so we can add them to the list!
Passion Plays take place across the country at various times throughout each year.
Here is a list of the plays that we are aware of. If we have missed any out, please let us know so we can add them to the list!
Passion Plays inEurope
The Netherlands
The Passion Play is a five-yearly cultural event in Tegelen, depicting the Easter story: Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the Last Supper, his sentence, the Stations of the Cross and his death on the cross on Calvary’s mountain. The play attracts thousands of visitors from far and wide and was last performed in 2010.
Passiespelen in Tegelen has a wonderful series of YouTube videos showing some of their 2010 performance, as well as more recent footage.
Visit their site to view them. Please also visit the English version of their site here.
Spain
“RIOGORDO PASS”: Representation of the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ, Good Friday and Holy Saturday 29 and 30 March 2013.
Visit their Facebook page here.
Italy
A passion play from Puglia, Italy.
Visit their Facebook page here.
More information Coming Soon
Turramurra Passion Play
Visit their website here for a fascinating scene by scene commentary and here for film clips from the pay.
The vision for the play was to tell the story of Easter in a contemporary way, and to grab hold of its meaning without resorting to “historical correctness”. Attempting and/or
claiming to present an “accurate” account of the events of The Passion – the death and resurrection of Jesus the Nazarene – is going to be futile – critics and audiences alike will spend more time finding the chink in the accuracy of the production, as Mel Gibson has found, than they will engaging with the story.
The main backbone of the script comes from the Gospel of Luke, and is based on the modern paraphrase translation by Eugene Peterson known as “The Message“. Peterson’s ultra-contemporary American idiom sometimes jars, but he has adopted a scholarly approach to the task of bring the ancient texts to life in modern language.
If you belong to a church or community theatre group which would be interested in staging a Passion Play of your own,
the team from the Turramurra Passion is keen to assist, with general guidance, sharing our vision and journey, and even possibly sharing the script.
Contact the Director, Dave Cornford, if you would like to discuss some ideas for further development.
Moogerah Passion Play
Watch a video of the Mooderah Passion Play here and visit their website here
The Moogerah Passion Play is a dramatic account of the Passion of Christ (His life, death and resurrection). Such plays have been performed by communities in Europe down through the ages, to teach others the central truths of the Bible.
The Moogerah Passion Play uses up to 100 actors, technicians, backstage and front-of-house helpers etc. Up to eleven denominations are involved in this ecumenical event each year. Performances take place in an open-air auditorium on the shores of beautiful Lake Moogerah, in South-East Queensland, Australia.
Only two things are necessary (it couldn’t be simpler). The belief or faith just mentioned and a sense of our own wrong-doing (sin). We can unload the burden, and this is what Jesus Christ is all about. Some of us carry around enormous burdens (e.g. anxiety, guilt, stress) quite unnecessarily. Please know that Jesus Christ has asked us to come to Him, please know that He is waiting for you to drop your burden at His feet, please know that if you can do it you will grow ten feet tall, please know that He will love you…
Perth Passion Play
Another testament to the Passion Plays taking place across the world, Perth, Australia. Here is a photo from the event. For more information on the Perth Passion Play, contact Rupert De Klee rdk@deklee.com.
Louisiana State Penitentiary
Angola, LA, USA
The life of Jesus Christ was a two hour play performed by a cast of offenders from Louisiana Stat Penitentiary and Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. It depicted the complete story of Jesus’ life and resurrection. It is now being made into a feature documentary called CAST THE FIRST STONE.
In early 2012, 75 actors and one theater director, all inmates at Angola Prison and Louisiana Correctional Institution for Women, came together to put on the performance of their lives. The cast and crew, made up of murderers and robbers, thieves and prostitutes, and no doubt a few wrongly convicted, prepared two yeas to put on a public performance of the life of Jesus Christ in the largest prison production of a Passion Play ever. CAST THE FIRST STONE is a feature documentary about the most powerful and popular story in history. In a place with little hope of freedom, where 95% of the men who enter the gates perish, the story of a man who sacrifices his life to save the wretched of the Earth, resonates deeply.
Read feature articles about the Angola Passion play here:
Passion play – Economist 15 May 2012
Passion Plays in Europe
The interpretation of the Passion has a long tradition in Europe. At present, Passion Plays are performed in many European localities, and in addition to that there are a lot of representations of the Passion and a lot of Passion processions during Holy Week.
Already for a long time, single towns had friendly relations, especially on a national level. The idea to unite groups performing Passion plays from Western and Eastern Europe was born already almost 30 years ago and led to the foundation of EUROPASSION.
“The presence of community renders us happy. St. Paul taught us to not proceed next to each other, but together. Jesus tells us that in some way we have to hate our life: activities, associations, groups… in order to make us understand that our life is not just for us, that if we want it just for ourselves, we won’t find it but lose it. Life is not receiving, it is giving ourselves. If we don’t give ourselves to others, we can’t receive.
The experience of the Europassion constantly lets us experience a so far unexplored pathway, so that we can continue to grow.
Surmounting a self-referred vision of our own experience obligates us to confront a regional, national, European and universal horizon. That is why a new vision, not fragmentary, is necessary. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. A spiritual energy, stronger and more attentive to cultural elaboration, a more evident solidarity in order to be recognised as bearers of hope, to help the people and communities grow.
The publication of this book is precious for our relationships. Everyone has contributed to its realisation and everybody will benefit from it.”
Mons. Fausto Panfili
Chaplain of the Europassion
The Aberdeen Passion – One Life Given
“The Aberdeen Passion – One Life Given” is a traditional telling of the final week of Jesus Christ’s life performed by members of the Aberdeen community over Easter Weekend, 2012. The production is a faithful retelling of arguably the greatest story ever told.
The Abingdon Passion Play took place on March 24th 2013, click here to see images and videos from the play: www.abingdonblog.co.uk/?p=8519
Below, promotional text for promoting the play…
Join us for Abingdon’s first Passion Play – an exciting, dramatic presentation depicting the events of the last week in the life of Jesus Christ.
This free, open-air production is an extraordinary community enterprise combining drama, music and dance which will draw in onlookers as they watch the events progress. In true Passion Play tradition, each scene takes place in a different location, in our case within Abingdon’s historic Abbey Gardens. From Jesus’ triumphal entry on a donkey, his arrest and false trial, and finally his crucifixion and the resurrection, the audience will follow the action as the story unfolds.
Mingle in the ‘Market’
From 1.00pm – Refreshments will be available in the ‘Jerusalem street market’, so come early to absorb the atmosphere, and be there to witness the ecstatic welcome of Jesus by the ‘townsfolk’ and the start of the play at 2pm.
Children (and adults if they like!) can feel part of the experience by dressing as a biblical character and bringing a ‘palm leaf’ to wave – for costume ideas and palm templates, please check out our website.
Feel free to bring a fold-up chair. Running time is approximately 2 hours. In the case of heavy rainfall the performance will take place in St Helen’s Church, St Helen’s Court, Abingdon OX14 5BS
Some scenes may be unsuitable for small children
Website: www.abingdonpassionplay.org.uk
EMAIL: INFO@ABINGDONPASSIONPLAY.ORG.UK
TO CONTACT THE MUSICAL DIRECTORS: MUSIC@ABINGDONPASSIONPLAY.ORG.UK
Andover will be performing a Classic Nativity in December 2012 as well as a pantomime-style interpritation of the Nativity on January the 3rd and 4th. The Pantomime will take place at Andover College Studio Theatre, Charlton Rd., Andover. Ticket prices are as follows:
TICKETS:
FAMILY TICKETS (2 ADULTS +2 CHILDREN UNDER 16) £15
Adults £6
Children £4
On sale from December 8th at Waterstones Bookshop, Chantry Centre, Unity members or the Director email: sharon.oleary1@btinternet.com
Tel 01264 324196 or mob 07933785368
For further information on the December Nativity or the January Pantomime, please visit the website: unitychristiantheatre.weebly.com
Andover (Hampshire) performed their third passion, THE PASSION OF JESUS in April of 2012. The script was written and supported by Peter Hutley. A website with a gallery from the 2010 and 2011 plays can be viewed here. The website also contains details of recent activities. The 2012 play photos and notes to follow soon.
The team also performed the Nativity on the High Street also last December using their choir, narration, rap, poetry and creating a tableau as the story unfolded with Mary, Joseph, donkey, shepherds and kings.
