Havant actors and writers create digital 'Passion Plays' telling the story of the resurrection to release films in lead up to Easter Sunday

Created by the Havant Passion Plays group, the series of drama monologues, entitled ‘The Road to Easter’, will be shared on the group’s social media and website over the days between Palm Sunday on March 28 and Easter Sunday on April 4.

Churchgoers of all denominations from Havant, Waterlooville, Emsworth, Bedhampton, Petersfield, Rowlands Castle and Leigh Park are involved in the Havant Passion Plays group.

Six writers from the team created the 12 monologue films, which are being performed by 15 actors.

Each around three minutes long, the films will tell the story of Jesus’s last week and resurrection from the point of view of key eyewitnesses.

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A cast from the group performed Passion Plays in Havant Park in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and this new digital project came about due to Covid restrictions on public performances.

Zoe Skinner, a lay minister who leads services at St John’s Church in Rowland’s Castle, will be playing Mary, mother of Jesus.

She said: ‘Although it’s the Covid restrictions that have prompted us to record performances one person at a time, I do think by sharing it digitally we are reaching people who wouldn’t have come along to Havant Park.’

The monologues were filmed in the church hall of St Francis Church in Leigh Park, under strict Covid-secure conditions.

Zoe added: ‘What I actually enjoy most are the workshops beforehand, when we go through the Bible story and work out how all the characters might respond.’

For more information, visit the website at www.havantpassionplay.org.uk.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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