Manchester Passion is a contemporary retelling of the last few hours of Jesus’ life using popular music from the cream of Manchester bands.
The BBC plans to mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ this Easter with an hour-long live procession through the streets of Manchester featuring pop stars from The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays and featuring songs by The Smiths and New Order.
In the programme a character representing Jesus will sing the legendary Joy Division anthem Love Will Tear Us Apart before dueting his arch-betrayer Judas on the New Order hit Blue Monday, according to senior church sources involved in the production.
When Jesus arrives in Manchester for the performance tonight it won’t be on a donkey - it will be on a bike. A procession of 250 people will snake through the city centre carrying light sticks and the centrepiece of the show - an eight-metre-long luminous cross, weighing half a ton. It will take 20 men to carry it into Albert Square for the Crucifixion.
Bishop of Manchester Nigel McCulloch said: “Manchester Passion has a sincerity and ability to shock and connect that is not far removed from how it must have been on the first Good Friday.”
I’ll check it out and take some pics.
Pamoja Tuangamize Ukimwi
Kaybees - Thanks for voting!
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May 3, 2006 at 1:53 pm
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April 14, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Poi
Happy Easter, Mental!
April 15, 2006 at 10:38 am
Esther Njoroge
I think it is a good thing as long as you stick as per the Bible principles. It might bring the message home to most people who actually have a far understanding of the gospel.Happy Easter.
April 15, 2006 at 11:40 am
Mentalacrobatics
@poi thank you! Same to you.
@Esther. They stuck to the biblical story line thankfully. But it was updated for the 21st century. Cops instead of Roman guards, a orange jumpsuit for the prisoners instead of the crown of thorns, we in the crowd were there to play the role of the mob shouting out Pilate. I’ll do a full post on it soon.
April 17, 2006 at 12:12 am
M
Just seen this in today’s Standard — is it really possible to tell the whole story using just Manchester’s Music? I await details with interest.
A children’s home I passed by some weeks back had a similar idea (replace Manchester with African)
April 17, 2006 at 3:31 pm
Mama JunkYard
I watched Passion on tv and I did look out for you lakini I didn’t see you.
The entire show was superb! What really touched me was how inclusive it was. There were Christians, Muslims and Spirualists all walking together.
Musically, it worked. The songs they chose were well matched. I particularly liked their interpretation of Robbie Williams ‘Angels’ and Oasis’ Wonderwall.
Pontius Pilate telling Jesus “Today is gonna be the day that they throw it all back to you. By now you should’ve somehow realised what you gotta do ”
Jesus responding with, “I don’t believe that anybody
feels the way I do about you now”
Pilate singing back, “Backbeat the word was on the street that the fire in your heart is out”
And of course the chorus, “because maybe you’re gonna be the one who saves me ?”
Genius!
It wasn’t preachy, it wasn’t setting out to forcefully convert souls. It was just telling the story of man who died so that we could be saved, which is after all the reason we celebrate Easter.
April 18, 2006 at 6:38 am
Ms K
Sounds like it was agreat show. So now why didn’t you take me??
The pic looks brilliant!!! BRILLIANT!