Local communities are greatly impacted by the free performances of Passion Plays not only in the actual performance but also in the broader process of rehearsing and producing it. They promote social cohesion and community spirit and exemplify many aspects of what Ann Jellicoe in Community Plays (1987) describes as ‘community drama’:
…opportunity for friendly cooperation over a long period stimulates and helps to unite a community. It will give them something to celebrate together and be proud of. Communities need community events to continually refresh them. Community plays can’t draw everyone in and can’t change everyone, but they are one of the most successful and all-embracing community events. (p.46)
Putting on a Passion Play in your town or city is not as hard as you think. If you have been inspired to have a free performance for your community, visit the Passion Trust site to find out how we can help you produce one or contact us directly.
Support and resources are available free online, and we would be happy to talk to you personally about your ideas for a new passion play. The Passion Trust exists to support you as you produce and perform passion plays in your own towns and cities.
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.)
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.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82GBIgGvDYo[/embed] Simon Carter played Jesus in the Nottingham Passion Play...
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.)
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.
