About
The passion story has been told and retold as a play over the centuries in a variety of styles and adaptations. "The Aberdeen Passion - One Life Given" is a traditional passion play, involving over one hundred performers through a blend of onstage action, a live band and choir performing modern songs with lyrics specially written for the production. The play is a faithful retelling of arguably the greatest story ever told, drawing its source material directly from the Gospel of St. Luke.. This adaptation of Jesus Christ's last days is an amateur production written and directed by Andrew Sykes, an Aberdeen local, and is supported by, and draws its cast and crew from, members of local churches in Aberdeen and the North East. Those involved are both Christian and non-Christian, drawn together by the amazing story that unfolds over the final few days in the life of who H.G. Wells referred to as "...easily the dominant figure in all history".
Welcome to 1st century Jerusalem where momentous events are taking place!
Passover week in Jerusalem is a powder keg – the city is full to bursting with pilgrims and the Roman forces will delight in reminding everyone that they are the only law. There’s always trouble. But this year is different. Word is spreading about a man from Nazareth who is attracting crowds and provoking the Jewish religious authorities. This unknown man from a Galilean backwater, challenges everything when he arrives in Jerusalem. Even his arrival on a donkey is a challenge - that is how scriptures say the Messiah will arrive. He even challenges the High Priest and the authorities on the morality of money changers in the temple, openly challenging their hypocrisy. But he challenges perceptions and values too - he welcomes prostitutes and tax collectors - the pariahs of society.
Such a stir cannot go unnoticed and the High Priest doesn't take a challenge on his position lightly. A conspiracy is taking shape, growing in intensity, a conspiracy that will not rest until the challenge is ended one way or another.
This is the start of a week that will shake the world. This is the last week of the life of Jesus as he puts himself on a collision course with the religious authorities. As the week progresses, the tension grows and the move to eliminate Jesus gathers pace. We follow Jesus from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the clearing of the temple, the last supper and his trial and to his ultimate crucifixion.
But this is not the end because ultimately Jesus even challenges death itself.
Why The "Aberdeen" Passion
Don't worry, we're not trying to produce a passion play set in Aberdeen! Nor are we attempting to tell the last days of Christ's time on Earth in Doric.
“The Aberdeen Passion – One Life Given” is a traditional passion play, involving over one hundred performers through a blend of onstage action, a live band and choir performing modern songs with lyrics specially written for the production. The play is a faithful retelling of arguably the greatest story ever told, drawing its source material directly from the Gospel of St. Luke.
We decided to use the title "The Aberdeen Passion" as a challenge to us all to establish a regular passion play for the North East of Scotland which was centred in, or around, the City of Aberdeen. As this is first year we've done this we decided indoors in a suitably large venue was the safest option (if you're not from Aberdeen check out the normal weather forecasts for the North East of Scotland!)
When and Where?
"The Aberdeen Passion - One Life Given" will be performed over Easter Weekend April 2012 in the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and will last approximately 2 hours.
Is this a Professional Production?
Whilst our aim is to produce a professional production in terms of quality and experience, it is an amateur production, drawing it's cast and crew from across the North East of Scotland and including both Christian and non-Christian alike.
The production is being operated on a strictly non-profit basis with all involved, with the exception of some professional support we need to hire in, giving their time and talents free of charge. The modest ticket price and any donations or sponsorship monies are solely to cover the venue hire (and associated costs), music copyright fees and material costs. Any income to the project over and above this will be distributed between the local, charities the production is supporting.
