Column: Bring passion to our parks

As a youngster, I remember going to the Abbey cinema in Liverpool to see the biblical epic, King of Kings, starring Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus.

Although the star seemed more suited to a Scandinavian drama than portraying a young Jewish man, nevertheless the actor, or rather the story, touched me.

A group of us would regularly come from this cinema and play about outside, usually kicking a football. On that occasion I wanted to be alone and somehow process what I had just seen in my own manner. The person of Jesus and the Christian story had got under my skin.

Not surprisingly, I have been a supporter ever since of different ways of retelling the ‘Greatest Story Ever Told’. This weekend people will be gathering from noon on Saturday, April 8 in Manchester Cathedral Gardens for a Passion Play involving actors and many volunteers.

They will be telling the story of Jesus’ teachings, his betrayal, his trial and his passion as he moves towards his death and glorious resurrection. Using live drama and music they will include witness accounts involving a cast of local people.

I have never been to Oberammergau – scene of the world-famous passion play – but I have seen one in America and more recently locally in Garstang and Preston. I understand that it was not so many years ago that the Lancaster churches, led by Christ Church Lancaster, put on such a passion play in the city.

It was

Article source: http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/column-bring-passion-to-our-parks-1-8474981