Our annual Passion Play took place on the final day of term. It is a well-established tradition at St John's and each year the Sixth Form approach this rite of passage with commitment and a genuine desire to do justice to the story, both individually and as an ensemble.
It is a poignant and beautiful way to end the term. The audience enters in silence and leaves in silence. There is no applause, just a deep, shared stillness.
There is something profoundly moving about watching young people engage so thoughtfully with this story. We approach it as a political piece and as a study of human behaviour, particularly what people are capable of when driven by fear.
This year, the Sixth Form grappled with themes of war, occupation, faith, hope, fear, loneliness, friendship, betrayal, gentleness and denial. We placed a strong emphasis on the power of pause, allowing tension to live between characters and reach fully into the audience. The pupils came to understand that pauses are earned through pace, and the way the dialogue drove forward this year created moments of real dramatic intensity.
Jesus was wonderfully gentle, Peter superbly bombastic, Judas brilliantly conflicted, Caiaphas frighteningly convincing, Herod delightfully over confident, the sisters Martha and Mary delightfully contrasting and the Mother of Jesus so pitiably hurt – and so, so many of the supporting cast in the moment. (Audience member)
Performances were mature, carrying real gravitas and a clear understanding of motivation and consequence. At times, it felt as though the narrative was a runaway train, with events unfolding before anyone could fully grasp the horror of an innocent man’s suffering.
What a wonderful experience! Jesus and Judas both real acting, not pretending. Very powerful. Loved the staging. Loved the script. Loved the a capella singing. (Audience member)
As ever, when the bar is raised, the children rise instinctively to meet it. This year’s cohort did exactly that, stepping into the Passion with a maturity and emotional intelligence well beyond their years. What they created was not simply a performance, but a profound act of shared storytelling, and our immersive production continues to deepen in understanding, resonance and insight into what it truly means to be human. In their hands, the story becomes not only retold, but renewed, carrying a depth of feeling that stays with everyone who witnesses it.
This Passion Play, in its entirety, exemplified the title. Outstanding acting by leads, immense and wholly committed back up from supporting cast. Direction superb imbuing each cast member with a deeply moving awareness of the significance of what they were playing out. (Audience member)