‘Passion Play’ depicts the true Easter spirit
Unique visual, spiritual experience
Daily Dispatch
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THE story of Jesus Christ will be brought to life next week when an East London high school opens its Passion Play production in celebration of Easter.
Gonubie High School pupils, teachers and community members are behind the play which runs from next week Monday to Friday.
Local actor, director and teacher Pieter Taljaard, who is well-known for productions such as The Glass Menagerie, Roses and Rain, Hairspray and Othello said the play would focus on Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
“The idea of performing Passion Play is to restore the character of Easter to its true purpose and provide a spiritual experience for families and individuals from all walks of life,” said Taljaard.
This is not the first year the team has put on the play. Last year the production told the life story of Christ including the miracles he performed and his resurrection.
“This year we will show the story from creation and link that up with Jesus’ birth and continue with his story,” said Taljaard, adding they had received a positive response from audiences when they first started the production.
Rehearsals started in January and Taljaard said the pupils involved had a chance to get to know the story of Christ in detail. “Some of them did not have a religious background and now they are more aware of what went down,” he said.
Grade 12 pupil Babute Kene, who plays Simon the Pharisee, said he had learnt things about the story of Jesus he did not know since his involvement with the production which began last year.
“My character shows a lot of hatred towards Jesus and I am able to portray that without shouting,” he said.
Taljaard said they were thrilled that local actor Marcel Corson, who recently joined the drama department as a teacher at the school, has agreed to play the role of Jesus Christ again this year.
“It is indeed an honour to be offered the chance to portray one of the most important and influential figures of all time,” said Corson.
Other well-known faces in theatre include Neal O’Donnall who plays Caiphas, the high priest and Ian Watson as Lucifer.
“This production provides a muchneeded platform for pupils to perform alongside professional actors and community members,” he said.
Passion Play is showing at the Gonubie High School theatre and tickets are available at Computicket.