Manchester Passion
| Manchester Passion | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Stephen Powell |
| Presented by | Keith Allen |
| Starring | Darren Morfitt |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Stephen Powell[1] |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Three |
| Original release | 14 April 2006 (Good Friday) |
Manchester Passion is a British television special which was broadcast by BBC Three on 14 April 2006.[2] Created by Stephen Powell as a follow-up to his previous BBC Three special, Flashmob — The Opera, it was a contemporary retelling of the Passion of Jesus Christ set to British popular music, broadcast live from various locations in Manchester, England, culminating with the procession of a large, lighted cross to the main stage at Albert Square.[3] The broadcast was presented and narrated by Keith Allen, and starred Darren Morfitt as Jesus.
While originally held as a one-off event, Dutch producer Jacco Doornbos created a localized version of the special known as The Passion, which was first broadcast in the Netherlands in 2011. The Passion has since been broadcast annually in different Dutch cities, and its format has also been exported to other countries, including Belgium and the United States.[4][5][6]
Cast
- Presenter/Pontius Pilate - Keith Allen
- Peter - Nicholas Bailey
- Judas Iscariot - Tim Booth
- Jesus - Darren Morfitt
- Mary - Denise Johnson
- Barabbas - Chris Bisson
- Criminal in van - Bez
- Himself - Anthony Wilson
Songs
- Morrissey - "You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side"
- Oasis - "Cast No Shadow"
- Joy Division - "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
- M People - "Search for the Hero"
- The Smiths - "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" (performed by Judas Iscariot as he betrays Jesus)
- James - "Sit Down"
- New Order - "Blue Monday"
- The Stone Roses - "I Am the Resurrection" (the majority of the song was sung by Peter after the arrest of Jesus, with the line "I Am the Resurrection" being sung by Jesus as a climax to the play)
- Robbie Williams - "Angels"
- Oasis - "Wonderwall"
- Elkie Brooks - "Sunshine After the Rain"
- Happy Mondays - "Hallelujah" (instrumental)
- Buzzcocks - "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" (instrumental)
- 808 State - "Pacific 202" (instrumental)
- Black Grape - "In the Name of the Father" (instrumental)
Reception
The production was praised by Bishop of Manchester Nigel McCulloch, who felt that Manchester Passion had "a sincerity and an ability to shock and connect that is not far removed from how it must have been on the first Good Friday."
References
- ↑ Kirby, Dean (15 February 2007). "Easter marked with a passion". Manchester Evening News.
- ↑ "Manchester re-enacts Crucifixion". BBC News. 15 April 2006.
- ↑ "Day that Jesus came to the Arndale Centre". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ↑ Nelson, Carrie. "7 Facts about Fox's next live musical, The Passion". SheKnows. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ↑ "TV Top 25: The Passion en dan heel lang niets". Metro (in Dutch). April 5, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ↑ "Fox To Air ‘The Passion’ Live Musical About Jesus Hosted By Tyler Perry". Deadline.com. Retrieved 12 February 2016.