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Over 700 people sat in the sunshine to watch the first Passion Play performed on White’s Field in Chinnor. The audience were able to enjoy free refreshments, while local novice actors presented the Easter Story to them.

The play opened by a 21st century family, eating breakfast, who found themselves discussing the origin of Easter Eggs. Father, mother and two children travelled back in time to AD33, complete with costumes to see for themselves the last week of life of Jesus Christ. Joyous shouting, shofar blasts, dancing, singing, waving of palm leaves announced the entry of Jesus. St Andrew’s and Mill Lane Primary School choirs joined in the celebrations. They sang their own song written and composed by a 16 year old from Chinnor. 

The cast encouraged audience participation as Pilate asked the crowd to choose between Barabbas or Jesus. They watched in silence as Jesus was denied, betrayed, whipped and finally executed on a 9ft high cross, nailed into place by Roman Soldiers. His distraught mother looked on helplessly. Hope and joy returned during the resurrection scenes witnessed by Mary Magdalene and his disciples. The 21st century family who had been part of the play, reverted back into their ‘normal time zone’. Then the play concluded with Jesus, dressed in 21st century clothes. He joined the family, showing he was alive and relevant in today’s society.

Our gratitude goes to the 120 people who came together from all walks of life to stage this production. Many of them did not appear on stage, but have worked behind the scenes. There has been great team spirit during the many months of hard work it’s taken for the team to bring it to life. The Chinnor Passion Play has been a real community effort! No profits were made from the event and no-one received any monetary reward.

  • Four women dressed in middle eastern costume enact a scene from the Chinnor Passion Play on the finding the empty tomb.
  • An actor playing Jesus pours wine at the last supper, at a long table surrounded by his disciples.
  • An actor depicting Jesus in white robes and a crown of thorns is surrounded by priests and soldiers.
  • Three actors; a woman in a purple dress sits on the ground, with an official and roman soldier on a stage with a red drape backdrop.
  • An actor playing Jesus carries a cross wearing with other cast members including a roman soldier nearby.
  • A colourful group of actors wearing robes stand in a park with houses in the background.
  • A group of actors playing priests and officials from Chinnor Passion Play.
  • Four women stand together wearing high vis jackets in a field.
  • An audience sit outdoors at the Chinnor Passion Play.
  • A group of musicians play under a yellow pagoda with sound equipment around them.
  • A group of male actors wearing middle easter robes and head dresses act a scene on stage in the Chinnor Passion Play.
  • Jesus hangs from a large wooden cross wearing a crown of thorns with roman soldiers in red standing below.
  • An actor playing Jesus in a medieval Passion Play is tied to a wooden cross with a dark sky above.