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Why are Passion Plays so important?

PT Admin
September 17, 2025
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People in colourful robes and scarves celebrate on the streets.

Passion Plays bring the Easter story to life in new and powerful ways, reaching large audiences in fresh locations every year. These free performances — both traditional and contemporary costumes — take place in shopping centres, city streets, town squares, public gardens, and cathedral grounds. From the beginning, our vision has been clear: to bring the story of Easter to every town and city across the UK.

Passion Plays make Jesus known through a combination of arts projects and faith communities that have as their heart embodied exploration of the central Gospel message. Through non-confrontational story-telling and opportunities for volunteering, they transform communities by making Jesus known and giving opportunities for building communities and equipping the people involved with employable skills, greater confidence and stronger faith.

 

More than just a Performance?

Passion Plays are far more than just a performance. They are a catalyst for community connection, personal growth, and the fostering of inter-faith dialogue. Whether you’re involved on stage or in the audience, these performances offer opportunities to build relationships, develop skills, and engage with the Christian faith in a deeper way.

Hundreds of volunteers join forces with professional actors and directors and thousands of Christians across various denominations come together to share their faith publicly. Audiences include people of all faiths and none and it is an opportunity to learn more about the true story of Easter and to see and hear what Jesus actually said and did for themselves.

Passion Plays give a unique opportunity for increased positive dialogue between different faiths in the community. They have a wonderful ability to promote dialogue and inspire new relationships between people of different faiths or none, as well as a vital space for exploration, dialogue and mutual understanding.

 

What does research show about Passion Plays?

Passion Plays are some of the largest outdoor live theatre performances in the UK, drawing tens of thousands of people each year. Research over the past ten years gives some insight into their popularity and success, as well as the need for continuity and growth.

Over a decade ago, a study undertaken by YouGov, 43% of children who took part indicated that they have never seen, read or heard the story of the Crucifixion. Over 60% of children indicated they had not read, seen or heard the Feeding of the 5,000 (61%) or the Good Samaritan (61%). Passion Plays became the prime way to help address this lack of biblical literacy in the UK.

They also support freedom of belief within faith communities in a way that  contribute to significant change and transformation. They are evidence of the way faith is a ‘powerful unifying force’, according to Colin Bloom’s Colin Bloom’s Independent Review into Faith Engagement published in 2023. As Bloom identified, faith  ‘invigorates society and pushes individuals towards a more cohesive community, characterised by hope, constructive endeavours and a positive vision for the future’, p.34. Passion Plays are unique projects that showcase this powerful unifying force that contributes to a more cohesive community,.

More recently, the Bible Society’s report titled ‘The Quiet Revival’ (2025) shows that where there once was apathy or even hostility to Christianity, we are seeing increased openness, especially among young adults, and particularly young men. The report highlights that 26% of the population are interested in discovering more about the Bible, including 18% of non-churchgoers.

This shift in spiritual climate in our society has brought into sharper focus the need to provide accessible opportunities for Christians as well as non-churchgoers and people of other faiths to experience the Easter story in a non-confrontational way. Furthermore, the need for safe and cohesive communities where people can grow in faith, confidence and mutual understandings across denominations and across different faiths.

Passion Plays present the Christian faith in fresh ways relevant to local communities around the UK.The plays are a fascinating place for exploration, dialogue and mutual understanding. You can read more about community theatre, biblical literacy, outdoor audiences and interfaith dialogue on our website here.  

 

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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