Despite the cold East coast winds over the weekend of Palm Sunday, hundreds of people (including many from outside the churches) attended the South Holderness Deanery outdoor Passion Play, “Easter Story”.
After its success in 2017, the Deanery produced the play again by popular request at Withernsea on Saturday 13th April and Hedon on Palm Sunday.
Church members had made props and costumes in 2017, but there was still considerable work in acting, publicising and stewarding and catering on the day. Methodist and URC churches assisted as well as two local amateur actors, and we were supported by the two Town Councils. Our own excellent Roman soldiers were amply supplemented by the imposing and realistic Legio VI Roman reenactment group who were movingly fierce when Jesus carried his cross. Bishop Alison joined us at both venues to add a closing address and blessing.
The play had been developed and used for many years by a Sheffield church, where it frequently became a introduction to church for people who later became members. It is deliberately simple to perform: it uses narrated mime which gives confidence to church members to have a go at acting and reduces the amount of sound equipment needed; it is written in verse which helps the story to keep moving; it uses portable props which can be taken anywhere, including a cross that is raised; and the audience stand round the action and move with the cast between scenes, which gives them a sense of participation in the drama as well eliminating the need for seating.
The simple, low budget method of production is nonetheless always extremely powerful in its effect. This year, for example, a couple in the audience commented, “We’ve been to the York mystery plays, but they’re not a patch on this.”
Philip West - South Holderness Deanery