A time for Passion in the Square
3:53pm Wednesday 19th March 2008
Church members from across the district have joined forces with drama groups to put together the first Passion Play in Bradford for more than a decade.
Crowds are expected to turn out for the performance of the Easter story which will take place on the streets of Bradford this weekend.
More than 80 churches have teamed up with Bradford theatre company Paper Zoo for the Passion Play which will be performed in Centenary Square.
The performance will begin with a singing, dancing procession through the city centre, leading into the square. A cross has been built for the production, which will tell the story of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. The play has been written by Christian group Saltmine.
Three local actors - Steven McLoughlan, David Peel and Daniel Pollard - will be playing the role of Jesus, and other cast members include amateur and professional actors, as well as members of church drama groups.
Drama organisations taking part include the Great Horton Players and Bradford Players. Church choirs, including Bradford Cathedral choir, will provide music to link the scenes.
The event has been organised by Hope Bradford, the local arm of national campaign Hope 2008, which encourages different churches to work together to help their communities.
"The last Passion Play in Bradford was about 15 years ago but some cities continue to hold one every year. If this performance goes well it would be good to make it an annual event in Bradford," says director Julia O'Keeffe.
"Using three actors to play Jesus is very much in the traditional style of Passion Plays. Different actors would traditionally act out different parts of the story as the play moved though a town or city in a promenade style, with the audience following.
"We're expecting a big turnout for this performance."
Julia says the idea is to remind people of the meaning behind Easter, and to make theatre more accessible to wider audiences.
"We want to open it up to as wide an audience as possible," she says. "It doesn't matter what religion you are; anyone can come along and watch the story. It'll be a moving but joyful event. We've updated it so it's set in the present.
"It's the first time I've done anything like this. What appealed to me was the idea of taking the play out to the people. Theatre can be intimidating for a lot of people, and they may not think of going to see something like a Passion Play, but with this performance anyone can come along.
"The biggest challenge is the wide area covered by the performance, including the parade. But it's really exciting seeing it all come together. There's a cast of about 30, and everyone is working really well together. We did the casting before Christmas and started rehearsing at the end of February. It's going well.
"The procession, which will be accompanied by colourful flags, is going to look great and the Easter story itself will be a real spectacle.
"It'll be a story to get to the heart of anybody out there, regardless of their religion or pre-conceived ideas. This is a timeless story of hope, brought into the city centre by what will be a vibrant production."
Cast members will hand out 1,000 free hot cross buns, donated by Hughes Bakery in Shipley, to the crowd before the performance, which will be free of charge. Members of the Christian Motorcycle Association will marshall the event.
The play will begin with the crew embarking on a singing, dancing parade through the city centre streets. At the end of the performance there will be singing led by the Bradford-based Light of the World Gospel Church choir.
Hope Bradford co-ordinator Marianne Clough says: "The procession will start in Centenary Square at 1.50pm then the cast will go on to other areas of the city centre, moving around for a five-minute parade before making their way back to the square.
"We have all come together to work on the play, it's a huge community effort. We've had great support from all corners of Bradford, including businesses and the Council as well as churches. People have put posters up and have helped to spread the words. It's been really heartening to have that support.
"On Easter Sunday there will be a united churches service at Bradford Cathedral at 6.30pm. Anyone is welcome to come along."
- The Passion Play takes place in Centenary Square, Bradford, on Saturday from 2pm to 3pm.