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Easter Play Scripts

PT Admin
March 28, 2023
A woman in a red robe and narrow headscarf with a passionate expression on her face is talking to a child with plaited hair and a long robe.

Looking for an Easter Play script?

Whether you want to put on a small play for children’s groups or a larger play for your church or local community, the first place you will want to start is with a good script. In this blog, we explore some of the ways to find a script and how to adapt an existing script or write your own.

The Passion Trust has scripts available for download on our website here. The scripts include those used in the following Passion Plays:

  • Manchester Passion in 2017, performed in the Cathedral gardens to over 3,000 people and filmed by the BBC for Songs of Praise on Easter Sunday.
  • Bolton Passion in 2016, performed at the Town Hall for an outdoor audience showing the betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • Glasgow Passion in 2015, a commissioned script by Rob Drummond performed in George Square, Glasgow using film and big screens to bring a modern slant to the story.

You can also find Easter play scripts available for download online:

Writing your own script?

You may also want to write your own script or adapt scripts that you have found online. Remember, it is always a good idea to check with the person who wrote the script to see if they are happy for you to do this!

Many people find that the best Easter play scripts are the ones they write themselves while working with others in a workshop setting. Workshopping a new script means you go straight back to the Bible and find ways of re-telling the Bible story from an authentic experience or wrestling with the text.

The best Easter play scripts are the ones that stay true to the Easter story as it is given in the four Gospels.

As you read through the Gospels and imagine what it would have been like to be there, or imagine what it would be like on a stage, and the first stage of the writing process will have already begun…

Visit our website to read more about four tools to help write your own play: Research, Reflect, Re-write, Reveal. We also have a whole host of other hints and tips.

Banner reading Find out more about Easter Passion Plays in the UK
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Is fundraising like online dating?

Online dating is trying to find the right match among many differnet people. Fundraising for Passion Plays is similar to online dating in one respect: trying to find the right match for your Play among different trusts and funding charities. Finding this perfect match is the key to raising funds to tell the Easter story!

Once you find trusts and funders who are of a similar mindset and value the things you value, you are well on the way to a perfect match.

 

How do we find potential funders?

The Charity Commission’s Register of Charities allows you to search for free by using filters to narrow your search. (Remember, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate registers.)
Funding Central is another register that is free to access.
For a more expensive option, you can try the Directory of Social Change’s Funds Online website which is regularly updated.
Since Passion Plays bring many churches of all denominations together, your diocese can be a good source of information and signposting. For example, see the Diocese of Bristol and their list of funders here.  www.bristol.anglican.org/documents/diocesan-funding-guide/
The Christian Funders’ Forum is also a useful source.

 

How do we let funders know our project is a good match for them?

Now is the time to do some research and really think about compatibility with the funders you are researching.

You can research their online content, websites, and also Further information will be inread through their annual reports published on the Charity Commissions website (click ‘Documents’ tab). These annual reports will give useful imformation about projects they have previously funded.

A quick phone call can also be helpful in establishing contact and goodwill as you will be able to find out more about them and let them know what you do.

Remember here that one of the key elements is timing! Some funders have a set application process that requires you to apply before a deadline. Other funders have trustees’ meetings at set times during the year and those times are good to work with.

The timing of your project also matters. Some funders like to fund projects in the early stage of development, while others like to give funding when they see other funders have already contributed.

There is a lot to think about with fundraising! But Passion Plays are such unique projects that it can also be an enjoyable process. Many funders like to hear about large community arts events that tell the Easter story in fresh and inspiring ways. Not only do Passion Plays have large outdoor audiences across the UK each Easter, they are also unique spaces of community, skill-sharing, mentoring and investing in the lives of volunteers across all sections of society. They are more than a one-off performance and the impact spreads across the whole community for many months.

 

Where can I find more help with fundraising?

If you want more help with fundraising, we have plenty more tips and advice on our website here.

We have recorded sessions from previous Passion Trust Conferences including sessions looking at Finance & Fundraising, Administration and Practical Considerations, and Q&A sessions. You can see more information and watch short helpful videos on our website here.

You can also find lots of helpful tips and advice at The Benefact Trust here or click on the image below.

three bullet points with rows of text and images in blue bubbles with white icons for help with fundraising

 

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