Easter passion play set for Rosalind park

 A local production of the biblical story of Easter will be run for a second year.

Churches of Bendigo and Bendigo Easter Fair Society, in conjunction with the municipality, are putting on Way of the Cross on Good Friday at a stage set up for the event at Rosalind Park.

Show director Julie Lovell from NEXUS Bendigo Youth Theatre said it’s a much younger cast in 2023 and 33-year-old Caleb Maxwell will play Jesus.

“It’s a very vibrant cast, it’s very authentic as well, so a bit more accurate to the [ages of the] people in the time of what the storyline was,” said Lovell.

The play retells the story from the last supper to Jesus’ crucifixion, and then his resurrection.

It will start at 7.30pm and will run for just over an hour.

Way of the Cross has a cast of just under 40, from local churches and theatre groups and the team has been practising since early February and includes actors aged 10 to 85.

“A wonderful representation of how the story is very generational, the theatrical production really has a great range of actors and interest from eight different churches,” said Lovell.

“It represents lots of different people from around Bendigo.”

Last year the play was held in front of the Capital Theatre, though has been moved to the park to avoid traffic impacts.

“It’ll be a really great place for families to sit and be entertained and see just a different side of Easter,” said Lovell.

“I know Bendigo really enjoys the theatre, and this is just kind of a lovely theatrical performance of the story of Easter.”

Chair of the event’s organising committee David Wright said about 2000 people are expected to show up for the performance and people will need to bring their own seats.

“It’s amazing how moving the production can be for people who perhaps are on the fringe of the Christian faith, who may find solace in the production,” said Mr Wright.