Passion Plays in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
### United Kingdom

Aberdeen
* The [Aberdeen](/wiki/Aberdeen "Aberdeen") Passion is staged biennially in the North East of [Scotland](/wiki/Scotland "Scotland"). First performed in 2012, this Passion Play recreates 1st\-century Jerusalem in modern [Aberdeen](/wiki/Aberdeen "Aberdeen").

Abingdon
* The town of [Abingdon](/wiki/Abingdon-on-Thames "Abingdon-on-Thames") Passion Play was a free, open\-air production performed in 2013\. This was the result of a community enterprise combining drama, music and dance which took place in different locations within Abingdon's historic Abbey Gardens.

Alresford
* Members of Churches Together in [Alresford, Hampshire](/wiki/New_Alresford "New Alresford") produced a Broad Street adaptation from [Palm Sunday](/wiki/Palm_Sunday "Palm Sunday") to [Good Friday](/wiki/Good_Friday "Good Friday") through song, dance, mime and drama for the second time in ten years in 2014\. Costumes were chosen reflecting what Jesus might have worn had he lived in the modern age; he wore jeans and those arresting him wore combat fatigues.

Belper
* [Belper Passion Play](https://nailed.community/2017/10/04/belper-passion-play-returns/) took place in 2017 and 2018 with 120 performers. The Passion Play (directed by Jannice Richthof and written by George Gunby) included music from the 'This Man' Oratorio by local composer Anne De Waal and this was supplemented by the CTIB Flash Mob on the streets.

Bewdley
* [Bewdley Passion Play](https://www.passion-plays.co.uk/bewdley-passion-play/) took place in 2013 and was a promenade through the town in Worcestershire. Its central [River Severn](/wiki/River_Severn "River Severn") Bridge was closed for over an hour and the cast of volunteer and professional actors drew hundreds of spectators.

Birmingham 1
* The [Old Joint Stock Theatre Company](/wiki/Old_Joint_Stock_Theatre "Old Joint Stock Theatre") based in [Birmingham](/wiki/Birmingham "Birmingham") presented a [modern retelling of the Passion Play](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/review-passion-birmingham-old-joint-6995716) in association with [Birmingham Cathedral](/wiki/St_Philip%27s_Cathedral%2C_Birmingham "St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham") during Easter 2014\.

Birmingham 2
* In 2019 the [Birmingham Passion Play](https://saltminetrust.org.uk/index.php/passionplay) was performed by a diverse team of a hundred community actors, musicians and stewards alongside Saltmine Theatre Company. This unique contemporary re\-telling of the [Easter](/wiki/Easter "Easter") story processed from [Birmingham Bullring](/wiki/Birmingham_Bullring "Birmingham Bullring"), along New Street to Victoria Square and finished inside St Philip’s Cathedral.

Bishop Auckland
* In over Bishop Auckland over 150 volunteers from different part of the community worked with a cast of 50 to perform a Passion Play to 1,400 people on Good Friday, 2022\.'Bishop Auckland Easter Story Re\-enactment Draws LArge Crowd After Two Year Delay', ITV Tine Tees, [https://www.itv.com/news/tyne\-tees/2022\-04\-15/bishop\-auckland\-easter\-story\-re\-enactment\-draws\-large\-crowd\-after\-two\-year\-delay](https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2022-04-15/bishop-auckland-easter-story-re-enactment-draws-large-crowd-after-two-year-delay) The performance was titled and according to Revd Canon Eileen Harrop, performance producer, the reason for this related to the theme of revelation in the Easter story: 
“The name derives from the idea of Jesus’ tomb being revealed to be empty on Easter Sunday and Jesus revealing himself to Mary and the Disciples. It also refers to Revealing the true story of Easter, as for many, Easter is more about chocolate and Easter bunnies."'Passion Play for Bishop Auckland staged in Market Place', The Northern Echo, 15 April 2022, [https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20072287\.passion\-play\-bishop\-auckland\-staged\-market\-place/](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20072287.passion-play-bishop-auckland-staged-market-place/)

Brighton
* In 'Soul by the Sea'[https://www.passion\-plays.co.uk/soulbythesea/](https://www.passion-plays.co.uk/soulbythesea/), volunteers from local communities in Brighton dramatised the days leading up to Jesus' arrest, death and resurrection from a script faithful to original scripture. Local community volunteers included a mixture of backgrounds, denominations and nationalities. This Passion Play is part of the broader Easter celebrations of Soul by the Sea and has drawn crowds in the thousands since 2011\.

Carlisle
* In 2019 the [Carlisle Passion Play](https://www.passion-plays.co.uk/carlisle2/) was performed by a cast of 47 actors, crew of 10, plus 55 singers and musicians from CTC Musicians, a professional Soloist, the Salvation Army Band and Songsters, and the Carlisle Taize Choir rehearsed over a period of weeks in local Churches and the historical Tithe Barn. The play was a modern, contemporary interpretation performed using the whole of the City Centre historical Town Hall Square and a specially constructed stage.

Chester
* The Chester Passion took place in various locations around the city on Good Friday 2o22, from Eastgate Clock to the Cross, along Northgate Street to Town Hall Square, and ending at Chester Cathedral.'The Chester Passion 2022', YouTube, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v\=5BLZ0o6iECM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BLZ0o6iECM)

Cowbridge
* The town of [Cowbridge](/wiki/Cowbridge "Cowbridge") in the Vale of [Glamorgan](/wiki/Glamorgan "Glamorgan") presented a Passion Play on Good Friday 22 April 2011 at Holy Cross Church with the cast drawn from each of the denominations of churches there.

Devizes
* A Passion Play takes place every ten years in the town in West [Wiltshire](/wiki/Wiltshire "Wiltshire"); events from [Christ's](/wiki/Christ "Christ") arrest to his [crucifixion](/wiki/Crucifixion "Crucifixion") are depicted in a Jerusalem style promenade performance.

Edinburgh
* Since 2005, [a Passion Play](http://www.easterplay.org/en/) has been staged in [Princes Street Gardens](/wiki/Princes_Street_Gardens "Princes Street Gardens") over the Easter weekend. Crowds of up to 2,000 people come to watch the community theatre productions portraying the events of the [Easter](/wiki/Easter "Easter") story. The 2014 production was written by [Rob Drummond](/wiki/Rob_Drummond_%28playwright%29 "Rob Drummond (playwright)") with [obvious reference to modern\-day Scotland](https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/independence-passion-play-get-scottish-twist-1545364) without taking political sides; the diverging behaviours and reactions of the split Jewish community in Jerusalem played served to point to the dangers of people letting the [2014 independence referendum](/wiki/Scottish_Independence_Referendum "Scottish Independence Referendum") public debate break down any of their normal relationships.

Great North Passion
* The [Great North Passion](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01t69yh) drew a crowd of thousands and was televised on BBC One in a live one\-hour event on Good Friday 2014\. The twelve stations of the cross were the focus of twelve dramatic, artistic and musical interpretations from different local communities in Northumberland, Middlesbrough, North and South Tyneside and Gateshead.

Havant
* The town performed its first Passion Play in 2015 as a collective effort by its church congregations and their leaders in worship. A BBC news clip shows the final preparations for the cast and crew of the Havant Passion Play.’Behold the Man!’, BBC, BBC Radio Solent \- Tim Daykin, Havant Passion Play. Exploring the wardrobe, Behold the Man!

Hornchurch
* One of the longest running and becoming one of the most renowned in the UK is the Hornchurch Passion Play, which is performed every five years or so on the Green by the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch, Essex to a crowd often numbering thousands over the Easter weekend. With a cast of over 70 actors and a full choir and band the performance began in 1995 and has run every fifth Easter ever since, only being postponed in 2020 due to COVID. The current director, Simon Pugsley, has also been involved since 1995, playing a 16 year old soldier. In 2000 he played the disciple John and in 2005 Simon Zealot before taking the lead role of Jesus in 2011 and 2015\. Kevin Walsh (RADA trained professional actor), the then director and one of the founders of the play handed over the directing responsibility to Simon in 2022, when the play was re\-established following the COVID postponement.

www.hornchurchpp.co.uk provides details on the event and photos of previous performances.

Isle of Man
* The Manx Passion was a promenade performance that took place in the Spring of 2014, often outdoors at scenic sites on the isle. Its Acts and Scenes selected important teachings and messages in the Bible from Creation to the Passion. It was adapted from the [Mystery Plays](/wiki/Mystery_Plays "Mystery Plays") of York, Chester and the Wakefield Cycles by Christopher Denys.

Lannarkshire
* “Resurrection!” was performed in [Hamilton](/wiki/Hamilton%2C_South_Lanarkshire "Hamilton, South Lanarkshire") town centre at 2:00 pm on Saturday, 31 March and an excerpt was performed in [Strathclyde Country Park](/wiki/Strathclyde_Country_Park "Strathclyde Country Park") on Saturday, 14 April at 2:00 pm by [Drama Kirk](https://www.passion-plays.co.uk/dramakirk/). The play was adapted from an Edinburgh Easter Play script by Kamala Jane Santos. Other Passion Plays have been performed between 2017 and 2020\. In 2022, their Passion Play, titled 'I am with you always' was written by Scottish Playwright, Simon McCallum, and performed in Hamilton town centre.

Leominster
* The town of [Leominster](/wiki/Leominster "Leominster") in [Herefordshire](/wiki/Herefordshire "Herefordshire") holds a Passion Play on [Good Friday](/wiki/Good_Friday "Good Friday") every four years, performed by volunteers from churches of all denominations in the town. The play is performed outdoors with each scene in a different position in the streets and squares of the town centre. The 2008 performance included bespoke music by local composer Liam Dunachie.

Liverpool
* [Liverpool Cathedral](/wiki/Liverpool_Cathedral "Liverpool Cathedral") presents a Passion Play each year to dramatise the events of [Holy Week](/wiki/Holy_Week "Holy Week"). The 2014 production was written by Mark Lovelady and Dan Bishop hand included an extra act showing Jesus' resurrection.

Manchester (2006\)
* [BBC Three](/wiki/BBC_Three_%28former%29 "BBC Three (former)") broadcast a modern eclectic musical\-genre Passion Play, the *[Manchester Passion](/wiki/Manchester_Passion "Manchester Passion")* in 2006\. The last hours of Jesus Christ's life told through legendary music from some of Manchester's greatest musicians, including New Order, [Oasis](/wiki/Oasis_%28band%29 "Oasis (band)") and [The Smiths](/wiki/The_Smiths "The Smiths"). It was narrated by [Keith Allen](/wiki/Keith_Allen_%28actor%29 "Keith Allen (actor)"), and starred [Darren Morfitt](/wiki/Darren_Morfitt "Darren Morfitt") as Jesus. [Denise Johnson](/wiki/Denise_Johnson_%28singer%29 "Denise Johnson (singer)") played Mary, Tim Booth played Judas, and Nicholas Bailey played Peter.

Manchester (2017\)
* The people of Greater Manchester came together to stage a performance of Christ's [crucifixion](/wiki/Crucifixion "Crucifixion") and [resurrection](/wiki/Resurrection "Resurrection"). It was filmed by [BBC Songs of Praise](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05009r7) and was the subject of a [documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAfLCV9ZeZY) available online.

Newark\-on\-Trent
* The town of [Newark\-on\-Trent](/wiki/Newark-on-Trent "Newark-on-Trent") hosted the *Newark Passion* written by James Pacey performed in 2011 in the [Church of St. Mary Magdalene](/wiki/Church_of_St._Mary_Magdalene%2C_Newark-on-Trent "Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent") and in 2012 performed in nearby [Southwell Minster](/wiki/Southwell_Minster "Southwell Minster").["The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark\-on\-Trent"](http://stmarysnewark.org/passion) , Retrieved 2011\-04\-12

Norwich
* A Passion Play took place in various sites around the city, including Hay Hill, Millennium Plain, the Forum and [St Peter Mancroft](/wiki/St_Peter_Mancroft "St Peter Mancroft"). [Mary Magdalene](/wiki/Mary_Magdalene "Mary Magdalene") drew the crowds from atop a plinth, the [Palm Sunday](/wiki/Palm_Sunday "Palm Sunday") procession was led by Jesus (on a bike) to Millennium Plain, the [Last Supper](/wiki/Last_Supper "Last Supper") featured fish and chips from [Norwich Market](/wiki/Norwich_Market "Norwich Market") and the [Resurrection](/wiki/Resurrection "Resurrection") took place in St Peter Mancroft with a live [Gospel choir](/wiki/Gospel_music "Gospel music").'Celebrate Norwich and NOrfolk', <https://www.networknorwich.co.uk/Articles/634017/Network_Norwich_and_Norfolk/Partners/Celebrate_Norfolk/Celebrate_news/Easter_passion_drama_played_out_on_streets.aspx>, accessed 19 April 2022\.

Oxford
* The [Cowley Road](/wiki/Cowley_Road "Cowley Road") Passion Play first took place in Oxford in 2012\. Its 2014 production attracted national attention because it was cancelled at the last moment. City Council Licensing officials refused to let it proceed without a fully debated decision, having presumed the motive for notifying that authority regarding the 'Passion Play'as a sex\-related production necessitating full permission under the 2003 Act. Despite the producers enquiring if the council would share the widespread view it fell within the meaning of "The provision of any entertainment or entertainment facilities for the purposes of, or for purposes incidental to, a religious meeting or service" following licensing [deregulation](/wiki/Deregulation "Deregulation") by the [Licensing Act 2003](/wiki/Licensing_Act_2003 "Licensing Act 2003").

Poole
* The town of [Poole](/wiki/Poole "Poole") stages the play viewed *Through the Eyes of a Child* every two years known as [Poole](/wiki/Poole "Poole") Community Passion Play (PCPP). It has been performed since written in 2009\. It is performed by a diverse inter\-generational group of amateur and professional actors, actresses, singers and choreographed performers.

Port Talbot
* The town of [Port Talbot](/wiki/Port_Talbot "Port Talbot") at [BBC Wales](/wiki/BBC_Wales "BBC Wales") studios hosted a Passion Play directed by award\-winning actor [Michael Sheen](/wiki/Michael_Sheen "Michael Sheen") on 22–24 April 2011\.["Michael Sheen's Port Talbot Passion Play to be filmed"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12326895), *[BBC](/wiki/BBC "BBC")*, 31 January 2011\.[Passion in Port Talbot/clips "Michael Sheen's Port Talbot Passion Play" clips](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0123x2t) BBC programmes. Accessed 2015\-04\-20\.

Shrewsbury
* The market town of [Shrewsbury](/wiki/Shrewsbury "Shrewsbury"), in the heart of Shropshire staged its first Passion Play on [Good Friday](/wiki/Good_Friday "Good Friday") 2019 called *The Shrewsbury Passion*. What began many years ago as a silent 'walk of witness' through the town every Good Friday reached a culmination in 2019 when it was decided by the head of the Shrewsbury Street Pastors Steve Jones to create a short script which would dramatize the [crucifixion](/wiki/Crucifixion "Crucifixion") of Christ. This was enthusiastically met by the town council. *The Shrewsbury Passion* brought together a cast of 14 locals and operated on a budget of only £1000\. Many Christian denominations were involved in the production; Anglican, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical and most notably the role of Jesus Christ played by an Orthodox Christian (actor Ryan Clement Kouroukis). The *Shrewsbury Passion* included the traditional 'walk of witness' (starting from St. Mary's church and ending in front of the Old Market Hall). The new inaugural production in 2019 was seen by approximately 600 people and lasted just over an hour. A new theatre company was formed soon afterwards to further promote and tell the Gospel stories through theatre. *The Shrewsbury Mystery Plays* is now a registered charity, and plans to perform the Passion play, a Christmas play and others on a regular year\-to\-year basis. The 2020 *Shrewsbury Passion* was to involve an expanded script, larger cast and larger budget but was cancelled due to the Covid\-19 government shutdown.

Southampton
* The city of [Southampton](/wiki/Southampton "Southampton") hosted a modern largely musical\-genre version, *[The Southampton Passion](/wiki/Southampton_Passion "Southampton Passion")*, on [Good Friday](/wiki/Good_Friday "Good Friday"), 22 April 2011\. Another performance, One Man’s Passion, was performed in 2019 with 7 different characters, each with their own voice/accent, as well as the main ‘storyteller’. This was recorded for a radio program and broadcast on Unity Radio on Easter morning.T ["Southampton passion play brings Easter story to life"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12494266), *[BBC](/wiki/BBC "BBC")*, 23 February 2011\.

South Woodham Ferrers
* The town in [Essex](/wiki/Essex "Essex") performed its first Passion Play 2009 'to speak to all people of all times'; the characters variously wore contemporary clothes or traditional costumes and the actor playing [Jesus](/wiki/Jesus "Jesus") arrived in the play on a [Harley Davidson](/wiki/Harley_Davidson "Harley Davidson") motorcycle. Its script is based on original accounts in the Bible, using modern language and realistic performances.

Tonbridge
* Tonbridge Passion Play takes place in the grounds of [Tonbridge Castle](/wiki/Tonbridge_Castle "Tonbridge Castle") and Rochester Prison over the Easter Weekend since 2013\.

Trafalgar Square
* [Trafalgar Square](/wiki/Trafalgar_Square "Trafalgar Square") hosts *The Passion of Christ* play twice on Good Friday afternoon, drawing up to 20,000 spectators and having a large cast with colourful costumes, horses and a donkey. The Wintershall Players' performance from Surrey is supported by the [Mayor of London](/wiki/Mayor_of_London "Mayor of London") and complements the one\-week running *The Nativity* and *The Life of Christ* plays in June and December in Wintershall, [Bramley, Surrey](/wiki/Bramley%2C_Surrey "Bramley, Surrey") supported by the [Diocese of Guildford](/wiki/Diocese_of_Guildford "Diocese of Guildford"), the [Roman Catholic Diocese](/wiki/Diocese_of_Arundel_and_Brighton "Diocese of Arundel and Brighton") covering Surrey and Sussex (Arundel \& Brighton) and ticket sales of the latter two plays.[Wintershall Plays](http://www.abeducationservice.org.uk/contentdocuments/365.pdf)  *Alpha Beta*, March 2015 edition. Monthly publication of the (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, page 10\.

Wirral
* Christ's Passion for Wirral (2017\) was a live, contemporary retelling of the Greatest Story Ever Told and a weekend of activity across the whole of the Wirral. It was a chance for people across [Wirral](/wiki/Wirral_Peninsula "Wirral Peninsula"), [Merseyside](/wiki/Merseyside "Merseyside"), [Cheshire](/wiki/Cheshire "Cheshire") and beyond to engage with the real\-life events of the first [Easter](/wiki/Easter "Easter"). The four\-day Easter event on the Wirral was made into a radio documentary by Flame Christian Radio with interviews and sounds from the live events. The line\-up of events on Easter Sunday took place at [Birkenhead Park](/wiki/Birkenhead_Park "Birkenhead Park") took place in front of the Jackson Memorial opposite the grand entrance and past the visitors' centre.

Woodstock
* [Woodstock](/wiki/Woodstock "Woodstock") Passion Play in 2014 saw a promenade performance in the town square and the Oxfordshire Museum Gardens; a local community production with a cast of over 70 people and hundreds of spectators in the crowd.

Worcester
* [Worcester](/wiki/Worcester%2C_England "Worcester, England") Passion Play took place on the streets of Worcester from the high street to Cathedral Square, with [Roman soldiers](/wiki/Centurion "Centurion") in period costume, two soldiers arriving on horseback and a donkey accompanying [Jesus](/wiki/Jesus "Jesus").'Large Crowd Watches Passion Play in Cathedral Square, Worcester News, [https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/20072441\.large\-crowd\-watches\-passion\-play\-cathedral\-square/](https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/20072441.large-crowd-watches-passion-play-cathedral-square/)

Was the Wirral event made into a radio documentary?