Passion Play - United Kingdom

United Kingdom

• The town of Leominster in Herefordshire holds a Passion Play on Good Friday every four years, performed by volunteers from churches of all denominations in the town. The play is performed outdoors, with each scene located in a different position in the streets and squares of the town centre. The 2008 performance included original music written by local composer Liam Dunachie.

• BBC Three broadcast a modern musical version called Manchester Passion in 2006.

• The town of Port Talbot *Passion in Port Talbot/clips at BBC Wales hosted a passion play directed by Michael Sheen (an actor known for roles in The Queen (film) and Frost/Nixon (film) among others) on April 22–24, 2011.

• the town of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan will present a Passion Play on Good Friday 22 April 2011. Two performances will be held at 11am and 2.30pm at Holy Cross Church. With the cast being drawn from all the local Churches in Cowbridge.

• The city of Southampton hosted a modern musical version called The Southampton Passion on Good Friday, April 22, 2011.

• The town of Poole staged The Passion Play, "Through the Eyes of a Child" (written by Sharon Muiruri), in 2009 and 2010. A third production is being performed on the 28-31 March 2012, see website for details.

• The town of Newark-Upon-Trent performed its first Passion Play on Maundy Thursday 14 April 2011 and Good Friday 15 April 2011.

• The Aberdeen Passion will be staged in the City of Aberdeen over the Easter weekend, 2012 in the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. The production involves almost 100 on stage performers between the actors, band and choir.

• 'The Newark Passion' written by James Pacey was performed in Southwell Minster on March 1 and 2 2012.

Originally staged in Newark's St. Mary Magdalene Church in April '11, 'The Newark Passion' played two sell-out performances, garnering widespread public acclaim and raising over £2,500 for local charities. It was such a success that it was followed by 'The Newark Nativity.' Performed by local actors and set to a deeply affecting soundtrack, 'The Newark Passion' makes a triumphant return, set in the wonderful architecture of Nottinghamshire's cathedral church of Southwell Minster. Appealing to those with faith and those without and raising funds for charity, 'The Newark Passion' is the perfect way to mark the start of Lent.

• The Passion Trust is a charity that has been set up to resource passion/mystery/nativity plays in the UK. Please visit the website passion-plays.org for a list of productions across the country.