The Great North Passion

Thousands will gather in Bent's Park, South Shields at noon on Good Friday for BBC One's extraordinary spectacle, The Great North Passion. The one-hour live event and broadcast reveals a giant iconic installation in the shape of a cross and is a unique and innovative retelling of the story of the Passion.

Fern Britton and singer Alexandra Burke join local community participants, ranging from dancers and graffiti artists to a massed choir, to tell the story of the last moments of Christ's life, from his trial and suffering to his eventual death.

Twelve artists have created new contemporary work with local communities across the north east of England, inspired by the stations of the cross. Housed in shipping containers, they will be joined together to form a giant iconic installation in the shape of a cross. Artworks range from a boat atop a shipping container with a net descending to the floor, made by local fishermen questioning 'what is truth', to the memories of Northumberlanders inscribed on a long wooden table.

Documentary short films will be interwoven with the live broadcast to reveal both the story of the Passion and that of the north east. The Great North Passion is created in partnership with the Cultural Spring.

For more information and film clips see: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01t69yh