Crucifixion year bad for Bavarian village barbers

Frederik Mayet, 30, a marketing student, is both “Jesus” and spokesman for the play.

To take part in the Passion, “you have to be born in the village, have lived here for 20 years, or be married to someone from the village for over 10 years”, he says.

The Passion is the “social event of the decade”, says play director Christian Stueckl.

“Some want to take part because it’s a tradition. Others for religious reasons. Still others, who aren’t at all religious, just don’t want to miss out,” according to Stueckl, a village native who usually runs the Munich Volkstheater.

Villagers give up a lot of time to take part.

They will be playing to packed audiences in a made-to-purpose theatre, which can seat nearly 5,000, for five hours a day, five times a week, from May 15 to October 3 – and that does not include rehearsals.

Nearly 1,000 villagers have acting roles – for crowd scenes up to 900 at a time can gather on stage – while others play in the orchestra, sing in the choir, sew costumes, or work backstage.

Donkeys, camels, sheep, goats and doves will also be on hand.

The Passion “is very important for tourism and economically” for the village, says mayor Arno Nunn, a former policeman who has only lived here for 12 years and is therefore excluded from the play.

“In 2000 we made net earnings of some €25 million (£23

Article source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7448196/Crucifixion-year-bad-for-Bavarian-village-barbers.html