After more than 4 years in the planning, two lockdowns and numerous cast changes, the Passion Play for Bishop Auckland is ready to be revealed on Good Friday in the Bishop Auckland Market place.
A cast of more than 50, and a backstage team of more than 30, drawn from Bishop Auckland and surrounding areas will perform Don’t Panic, All Will Be Revealed! – the true story of Easter, in two performances at 12 noon and 3 pm on Good Friday, April 15th.
Originally conceived as an idea in 2017, following a visit to the Wintershall production in Trafalgar Square, Passion Play Bishop Auckland (PPBA) became part of the Wintershall group of passion plays performed nationally on Good Friday under the umbrella name One Good Friday and planned its first performance in 2020.
The performance for 2020 had to be shelved due to the pandemic and was rescheduled for 2021. Sadly 2021 also had to be shelved, once again, due to the pandemic.
Due to the massive commitment of the performance team and support from across the region, we are looking forward to performing the passion play twice on Good Friday 2022.
The first performance at 12 noon will be opened by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Mrs Sue Snowdon, and will be closed by the Rt Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, whilst the second performance at 3 pm will have Bishop Auckland MP, Dehenna Davidson, and will be closed by Canon Father Dennis Tindall of St Mary & St Winifrid, Bishop Auckland.
Along with a town in the South of England, the Bishop Auckland Performance will be the only passion play in the North of England being performed under the One Good Friday umbrella in 2022.