The Passion Play is more than just another Play

Do you understand what I do for you?

The Good Friday Passion Play is a special kind of performance. On one level it is a group of people coming together, dressing in costumes and performing a live play in front of thousands of spectators.
But that is only if you take a very shallow view of what is happening.
For almost 2,000 years Christians have been retelling the story of the Good News of Jesus in as many different ways as possible to share their joy. For most of this time the majority of people couldn't read so the message was passed on through stained glass windows, preaching and plays.
We know from many studies in how people learn and retain information that it is important to engage as many of our five senses as possible.

Follow Jesus - He is the Way

The Passion Play at the Penrose Park Monastery is a very successful implementation of a teaching moment due to the incredible immersive nature of the day.
Sight - The costumes, props, sets and actors have all put much work into capturing the essence of the time of Jerusalem at around 30AD or so.

Sound - Passionate acting, the clash of Roman and Jewish guards, the roar of the crowd calling for Jesus' crucifixion, the wailing of the women as Jesus proceeds on his way of the cross, the crunch of leaves and twigs as you walk across the open ground.

Lord, will you take this cup?

Touch and feel - walking the play from the first scene to the last is about 1,500 metres up slight hills, along dusty pathways, on the paving surrounding Pontius Pilate's Palace, the weather and wind of the day.

Smell - 5,000 to 10,000 spectators, the trees and gardens of the monastery, the brazier during in the High Priests meeting area, dust from the way of the cross.

Taste - if it rains you have the moisture, if it is dry you can taste the dusty air, if you attend the 3pm Veneration of the cross service you have the taste of communion.

Mary always directs us to Jesus

Overall, you have many different ways to experience the passion. All this then combines with the play, the prayers said as we walk between each scene, meditation on the stations of the cross detailed in the booklet and the bringing to life of these historical events.

The Pauline fathers and Brothers have been sponsoring this play for over 25 years. They have heard thousands of confessions of those attending the play, assisted with opening and closing prayers, maintaining the grounds and sets and so much more.

So, on one level this really is an immersive play that anyone, Christian or otherwise, can greatly enjoy. We freely invite anyone to come and join in. After all it is not every day that you can watch and be part of such a huge production.

But if you wish to delve deeper, you can gain so much more.
As Jesus tell us, "Come, Follow Me."