Passion play call

Actors needed for 2018 production

The greatest story ever told is coming to town again –and rehearsals are about to get under way.

Churches across Hamilton combined earlier this year for a groundbreaking outdoor play about the Passion of Christ.

It was performed in the streets during Holy Week and was such a success that even bigger plans are being made for Easter 2018.

Liz Blackman, the wife of Rev Ross Blackman from the Old Parish, will once again produce and direct the play.

She said: “It is wonderful to have the support of the churches in coming together again to take the Easter story out into the streets.

“The opportunity to bring the story to life is welcome, and I hope lots of people will be interested in joining us.”

Following the success of Walk With Christ earlier this year, the churches will be performing a 90-minute Passion play called Renewal Through Resurrection next Easter.

While the last play was serialised over Holy Week, this next production will be performed on the streets of Hamilton on Easter Saturday, March 31, 2018.

Auditions and rehearsals will begin this month, and anyone interested in taking part is welcome to go along.

A Passion play tells the story of the last week of Jesus’ life through drama, taking people on a journey to the cross and ultimately finding renewal through resurrection.

The cast are traditionally drawn from the community, with a professional actor in the role of Jesus.

And for next year, the company are delighted that Nicholas Elliot will perform the main role.

He is an experienced actor who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and has worked extensively in theatre, film and television, most recently with the National Theatre.

Nicholas said: “I am very much looking forward to working with everyone and to getting started.

“I feel very proud to be cast in such a role as they are big shoes to fill – not only in the actual role of Jesus, but also following on from such a successful production last March.

“I spend a good deal of time in Hamilton and was actually married in Chatelherault, so I have had great times and great memories here in Hamilton and look forward to bringing our Passion play to the community.”

The churches of Hamilton have a tradition of coming together during Holy Week, rotating the host.

In 2017 it was the turn of the Old Kirk, and they decided that they wanted to do something a bit different.

Each day at Hamilton Old Parish, actors performed scenes from Holy Week as they would have happened, and the production concluded with Jesus on the cross outside the church followed by a church service.

If you would like to join the company for 2018, you don’t need any experience of acting or drama to be involved, and you don’t need to be a member of a church.

Anyone who wants to help tell the Easter story is welcome. There are lots of ways to be involved, from having one of the lead roles or appearing in crowd scenes, to helping with scenery, sound or administration.

Rehearsals will be held at 7pm in Cadzow Parish Church, starting on Tuesday, November 14.