Play brings Easter message

St Annes teenager Brandon Gutierrez takes the role of Jesus in the event organised by the Lytham Ecumenical Partnership, in conjunction with Park View 4U, from 3pm on Sunday.

Echoing the open-air style of the traditional Oberammergau Passion Play, which has been performed in Germany for almost five centuries, the re-enactment of the ancient story of Christ’s passion will involve local schools, bands and choirs, plus a team of teenage actors.

They will come together on the amphitheatre and QEII playing fields of Park View and follow a procession route around Lytham and before finishing back at Park View.

The actors will wear modern dress and organisers say the aim is for the live and recorded music to be relevant and moving, with the aim of making sure the realism reflects that the world is still a dangerous place for many.

The play will start with the Last Supper on the skate ramp in Park View4U, and different areas of the park will be used as the drama unfolds before the procession heads out pausing at the Fire Station, St.Peter’s Church garden, Clifton Street, the Piazza, Sparrow Park, at the Railway Station and the gates of Lytham Hall, returning to Park View for the final death and laying in the tomb.

Spectators are invited to promenade with the drama and the performance, directed by AKS school director of drama Faye Horrocks, will include dialogue, and readings, along with live and recorded music.

Music teacher Andy Severn has composed a special song Good Friday for the primary school children involved to sing and Lytham Community Choir and James Edgar, the reigning Fylde’s Got Talent winner, will perform.

Director Faye Horrocks said: “It’s brilliant that so many members of the community can come to this place and interact to tell such a brilliant story which everyone will understand.

Alison Newsham, Lytham Ecumenical Partnership and Children’s Youth Worker for the town’s St Cuthbert’s and St John’s parishes, who is co-ordinating the event with Cath Powell of Park View, said: “We hope to bring home to true meaning of Easter – that it’s not just about eggs and bunnies!”