Easter: Alive in Stanthorpe

Australia’s only touring Easter Passion Play will perform in Stanthorpe on Good Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre.
The Iona Passion Play has performed somewhere in Australia every year since 1958. It has travelled more than 50,000km and been seen and enjoyed by over half a million people. The audience witnesses a true-life drama of an event that changed the course of history.
There is so much more to Easter than chocolate eggs and bunnies. It is a time for families, individuals and churches to join together to remember the last days of Christ on earth. The play, based on the four Gospels, depicts His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, through His trial, agony and death, to His Resurrection.
All associated with the Iona Passion Play are conscious of their missionary role in portraying the story of Christ’s love. Whilst some of the performers have acting experience, the cast, in the main, comprises men, women and children whose only stage experience is their annual involvement in this production.
The Iona Passion Play involves a committed group of volunteers who devote many hours to the annual production including three months of rehearsals leading up to the Easter performance.
Age is no barrier to the cast with membership ranging from toddlers to senior citizens.  There is one original actor still in the production and a number who have been involved for more than 30 years.
Local participants are also recruited each year for roles such as Roman soldiers and crowd extras. The Stanthorpe performances are on Good Friday at 6pm and Saturday, April 23, at 10am.
Tickets can be booked by phone on (07) 3333 1993 or online at www.passionplay.org.au
A discount is available for groups of 10 or more if pre-booked. For more information visit their website.