Diocesan News
Walled City Passion returns to Londonderry’s city walls
Walled City Passion, which stages a re–imagining of the Easter story, will return to Londonderry’s city walls again this year. The production, which looks at the story and message of Christ’s ministry around the final few days of his life, will be staged on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th April. The event – which is becoming an annual feature in the city’s calendar – will recreate different scenes from the final few days of Jesus’ life, leading to His crucifixion and resurrection at that first Easter.
The production will be mounted as a promenade performance around the Walls, commencing at St Columb’s Cathedral and concluding at the Guildhall. It will use the unique heritage of the city as a backdrop to the most famous story ever told.
Walled City Passion’s writer, Jonathan Burgess, explained that this year’s production would be different from the Walled City Passion of last year. “Last year we went all out after coming back from Covid and the project – which had always been envisaged as a live performance on the Walls – became something entirely different when other media became involved. This year, we are making the story a little more traditional than last year and are taking it back to the vision of a live promenade production around the city centre.”
Following on from this, Archdeacon Robert Miller, one of the show’s producers, added: “The play is at the heart of the project which we intend to bring back to the Walls every year. We want to create a signature event that people will travel to see. The project isn’t only concerned with the show, though; there are other fringe events, talks and theatre workshops which unpack the message of the Passion story and look at its relevance in today’s world.”
The production will have a strong, local, professional cast as well as offering opportunities for emerging performers to gain experience in the industry. “We’re very committed to assisting in rebuilding the local arts scene, which was affected so heavily by the public health crisis,” Archdeacon Miller said.
The production will be staged at 12.30pm and 3.30pm on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th April, commencing at the Church of Ireland Diocesan Office. Tickets for the event are on sale at £10, from the Millennium Forum Box Office on 028 7126 4455 or at www.millenniumforum.co.uk
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org