The Original
Black Hills
Passion Play

Synopsis & Images--
Page 3

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These Pre-Easter appearances of the Play feature a newly-built portable set, first used in August of 1998 for performances at the Selo Ukraina Amphitheatre in Dauphin, Manitoba. The set was designed for use with equal effect, indoors or out. The size of the Hamilton arena and its entrances permit use of the animals which have traditionally appeared in the Play -- camels, horses, donkeys and sheep.

The Black Hills Passion Play has been performed to critical and audience acclaim for more than 60 years. Its great appeal is based on the spectacle which brings to audiences a sense of reality and of being present in history as the events took place, whether they view it as a moving spiritual experience, or as timeless theatre recreating the classical art form of Medieval passion plays.

One of the unique features of the Play is its exploration of the political and religious climate of the Holy Land during Jesus' lifetime. The harsh realities of Roman occupation and its resulting pressures on Jewish life and tradition are clearly brought out in the scenes of Jesus' capture and trial, His sentencing by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and His ultimate crucifixion.

The Black Hills Passion Play is interdenominational, and has been applauded by the clergy of many faiths as being one of the most detailed representations of Biblical history. The beauty of its dialogue, derived from the original King James text, calls to mind the traditional language of the Bible, recognized and beloved by many. Faithful to the historical traditions of Medieval drama, the Play maintains a living link in the development of the Theatre, and of representations of the Passion of Christ.

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