Mary hugs her son Jesus after he is resurrected, her face over his shoulder is full of emotion "It was the first time I thought of Jesus as my friend." Jesus stands with his arms up above his head and in front of him people lift their hands to him and a man in a turban turns to the camera. "I’m not religious but what an amazing day." "The kids and I were
completely blown away."

Where can I see a Passion Play?

Find locations and dates of Passion Plays taking place near you.

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What is a
Passion Play?

Learn about Passion Plays, their origins and how they are performed today.

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Can I put on a Passion Play?

Free information and resources to help you put on a Passion Play (opens new website).

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Passion Plays in 2021

Picture of a crown of thorns with shadow on a pure white background. The text reads Cytun. For Bangor Passion Play.

Bangor

Logo with a crown of thorns, a drop of red blood and words in black saying One Good Friday: a passion play by Bath for Bath.

Bath

Outline of three purple crosses on top of the outline of a purple semi-circle. Underneath, the text reading Passion Play, Bishop Aukland

Bishop Auckland

White text on yellow background, details of the Chester Passion Play 2020

Chester

A wooden cross with the rolling hills of Oxfordshire and the Chilterns in the background under a blue sky. Words in white say Chinnor Passion Play 2020.

Chinnor

Words in white text reading The Edinburgh Passion 2022' with a white cross against a red background, for Edinburgh Passion Play.

Edinburgh 2022

Guildford

Guildford

Four black figures in a building with a cross on it with words in black and orange saying Drama Kirk: Bringing the Gospel to Life for its Passion Play in Hamilton.

Hamilton

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Heworth

Logo with a red cross and words in black that read Hornchurch Passion Play.

Hornchurch

A green cross and words in black and green saying One Good Friday 2020 for Horsham Passion Play.

Horsham

Logo of Lewes Passion Play with a crown of thorns in the shape of a rose.

Lewes

A woodcut image of Adam and Eve with a tree and snake with words in old-fashioned font saying Lincoln Mystery Plays.

Lincoln Mystery Plays

A white cross and words saying Liverpool Passion. Experience the Easter story, with a purple background.

Liverpool

A wooden cross against a red and yellow background looking like the sunrise with the test Lytham Passion Play.

Lytham

Brown crown of twisted thorns with a shadow on a white background for the Redditch Passion Play.

Redditch

Silhouette image of three crosses on a hill with people standing underneath them for the Settle Passion play.

Settle

A green cross and words in black and green saying One Good Friday 2020 for Horsham Passion Play.

Spelthorne

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

St Neots

Picture of Jesus, dressed in white addressing the crowds at Trafalgar Square London. Text on the image reads: Wintershall, Experience the story

Trafalgar Square

White text says Worcester Passion Play with an orange background.

Worcester

Passion Plays in 2019/2020

A vintage photo of a man in 1901 holding a sign advertising a Passion Play. Surrounded by people walking past.

1901: Rare Passion Play footage!

An image of the United Kingdom with pins to locate Passion Plays taking place in 2023.

2023 Passion Play

Poster text reads The Aberdeen Passion presents Pilate. A man of mistakes and missed opportunities. A brand new short play.

Aberdeen Passion

Three red crosses and two red footprints with black numbers '2019'

Abingdon

Two footprints in red paint on either side of three small crosses and the text 'Abingdon Passion Play' in red.

Abingdon

A crowd of actors gathers round a central figure giving a speech. All wear middle eastern dress in a scene from Cape Town Passion Play.

Africa

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Alresford Passion

A crown of thorns with buildings behind and text: poster advertising the Angola Passion Play, The Life of Christ at Louisiana State Penitentiary.

America

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Andover Passion Play and Nativity

A cross with a circle of light around it.

Anglia Square, Norfolk

A group of actors in middle eastern dress gather around a fire in a scene from the Fife Nativity in Auchtermuchty.

Auchtermuchty Nativity

Jesus and his disciples on a boat on a lake at sunset as part of a Passion Play in Australia.

Australia

Black and white woodcut of the cross with the risen Jesus standing in front of it with his arms wide for Ballylinan Passion Play.

Ballylinan

Picture of a crown of thorns with shadow on a pure white background. The text reads Cytun. For Bangor Passion Play.

Bangor

Barnet

Barnet

Logo with a crown of thorns, a drop of red blood and words in black saying One Good Friday: a passion play by Bath for Bath.

Bath

Poster with the cross and bold red text which says The Bedford Passion Play.

Bedford

A poster for the 2018 Belper Passion Play. A sunset with three crosses in the background. The foreground shows half of a face off actor dressed as a Roman soldier.

Belper

Jesus on the cross, with a crown of thorns on his head. Text reads Beverley Passion.

Beverley Passion

A Silhouette of a crown of thorns is off the left hand side of the poster, with a single red droplet dropping from it. Underneath, the text reads in black: First Light. A Passion Play for Hertford. The 't' in Hertford is a Red Cross.

Bewdley

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Billericay

A man in a hoody with arms out wide overlooking a cityscape with the text A Passion for Birmingham.

Birmingham

Large hands are clasped together in prayer over a city. Text reads The Birmingham Passion Play 2019.

Birmingham

Outline of three purple crosses on top of the outline of a purple semi-circle. Underneath, the text reading Passion Play, Bishop Aukland

Bishop Auckland

Three purple crosses on a hill with the words 'Passion Play, Bishop Auckland' in purple letters.

Bishop Auckland

A montage of images from the Bolton Passion staged in 2016 centred on Jesus carrying the cross with main text saying Passion for Bolton.

Bolton

Three crosses on a hill under a red sky with words reading The Last Days: A Passion Play portraying events during the last week of the life of Jesus, in Bolton.

Bolton

A cross with a circle of light around it.

Bootle

A man and roman soldier holding a cross in preparation for the crucifixion scene on Brent Tor, part of Brentor Passion Play.

Brentor

Drawing in stained-glass style of hand nailed to a cross, in front of which colourful text says Brigg Passion Play.

Brigg Passion Play

Three crosses with the colourful logo in front for Brighton's Soul by the Sea.

Brighton’s Soul by the Sea

A poster with a purple background and words in gold and purple saying 'Born for this: A Passion Play'.

Bristol

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Brynmawr (and Abergavenny)

A green cross with the words 'one good Friday 2022'

Burton on Trent

A group of actors in middle eastern dress walk up a road in Bury St Edmunds for the Passion Play, surrounded by buildings.

Bury St Edmunds

A crown of thorns on a yellow background.

Cambridge

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Cardiff Nativity

Three white crosses on a white hill against a red background. Words in white and black say Carlisle Passion Play: Easter 2019.

Carlisle

A makeshift stage on the high street of York with people in medieval garb preparing for a live performance of the York Mystery Plays

Censoring the Passion in early modern England

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Chatham

Cheadle

Cheadle

Chester Mystery Play logo with a smiley-faced sun and purple text for the reviews.

Chester

A yellow poster with small images of Pontius Pilate, a Roman Centurion, and Jesus with words in white saying Chester City Passion: Good Friday 2020.

Chester

White text on yellow background, details of the Chester Passion Play 2020

Chester

Against a dark purple background, the words Chester Mystery Plays with 2023 highlighted below. The years 2013 and 2018 appear to the left of 2023, but out of focus. And to the right 2028 and 2033 appear in the same way

Chester Mystery Plays

Men and women in bright robes lift their arms towards Jesus standing in the background in white light and dressed in a white robe.

Chester Mystery Plays

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Chichester

Chinnor Passion Play logo with a purple mountain in the background.

Chinnor

A wooden cross with the rolling hills of Oxfordshire and the Chilterns in the background under a blue sky. Words in white say Chinnor Passion Play 2020.

Chinnor

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Clonard

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Clydach Passion Play

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Colchester

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Corby Passion Play

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Cowbridge

A red letter P, with a black nail and Cowley Road street sign crossing in front for the Cowley Road Passion Play.

Cowley Road, Oxford

A poster for Crewe Passion Play with a red cross, heart and crown of thorns and writing in black and red saying 'Crew Passion Play: Good Friday Walk of Witness.'

Crewe

Two actors playing Roman soldiers in costume flank the actor playing Jesus who wears a purple robe and crown of thorns - performing a Passion Play scene with central Cromer's buildings in the background.

Cromer

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Croydon Passion

Darlington Passion Play

Darlington Passion Play

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Derbyshire Passion Play

A stone cross from a tombstone in the foreground with a church spire and thinner cross elevated in the grey cloudy sky.

Derry

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Devizes Passion Play

Four men standing on a stone balcony enacting a Passion Play seen by Shakespeare.

Did Shakespeare watch a Passion Play? Part 1

An actor portraying a wounded Jesus carries the cross at the hand of a roman solider in front of an old church. Part of a Passion Play

Did Shakespeare watch a Passion Play? Part 2

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Didcot

An old man and a young boy in traditional costume looking towards the viewer with the words in white The Road to Easter. An example of a digital passion play.

Digital Passion Plays

An actor in full Roman soldier costume stands inside a church with a strong green light on him. Behind him is a vivid stained glass window.

Do you want to learn stage fighting?

Logo with sillouette of three figures in a building with a cross on it. Text in black and orange says Drama Kirk: Bringing the Gospel to Life. They stage the People's Passion.

Drama Kirk

An illustration of Jesus, the cross with red, blue and green. A poster for the Duddingston Kirk Passion Play, To the Cross.

Duddingston Kirk

A stone cross from a tombstone in the foreground with a church spire and thinner cross elevated in the grey cloudy sky.

Dumfries

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Dundee

White robe draped over an empty cross atop a yellow brick base. The cross is lit by a golden sunset with a clear blue sky behind it. As part of the Brighton Passion Play

Durham

A man from the crowd helps Jesus carrying the cross on his back down the high street followed by a large crowd and some soldiers carrying shields. They are all in contemporary clothes. For Easter 2022.

Easter 2022

An actor portraying a mortally wounded Jesus is hung on a large wooden cross against a bright blue sky as part of an Easter Play.

Easter Dates 2023

A crowd of shadowy figures stand in a dark park with a domed building lit behind them.

Easter Monologues

A previously lame lady celebrates, running towards the camera. Jesus, dressed in white, walks behind her, as part of the Easter story.

Easter Weekend 2023

A poster for the Edinburgh Easter Play 2018 with the words 'Hope Rises' and an image of Jesus with crown of thorns on his head.

Edinburgh

Jesus with a crown of thorns for Edinburgh Easter Play.

Edinburgh

Roman soldiers raise the cross on which Jesus is crucified and a group of his followers and friends stand behind weeping.

Edinburgh

Words in white text reading The Edinburgh Passion 2022' with a white cross against a red background, for Edinburgh Passion Play.

Edinburgh 2022

Two Roman centurions in red robes and feathered helmets hammer Jesus' hands on the cross and place crown of thorns on his head.

Epsom

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.

Europassion

Logo for Passion Plays with words in gold saying 'Passion Plays: Experience the real story of Easter'.