LONDON - 11 March 2008 - 380 words
BBC
presents new Passion drama for Holy Week
It's the start of Passover week. In the next few days thousands
of pilgrims will pour into Jerusalem to celebrate the most important
festival in their religious calendar. For their Roman masters,
led by Pontius Pilate, it is the most difficult time of the year.
For the High Priest Caiaphas and his Temple priests the workload
will be heavy and the pressure to maintain civil order will be
intense.
Then news is brought that Jesus the
Galilean is approaching the city on a donkey's colt, and will
be entering Jerusalem through the East Gate - thus fulfilling
two of the most powerful religious prophecies of the coming of
the Messiah. The one who many believe will lead them to military
victory or spiritual salvation.
On the streets a crowd is beginning to gather. And the week has
only just begun...
The Passion is a new drama, retelling the last week in the life
of Jesus written by Emmy Award winner Frank Deasy. The series
will be shown throughout Holy Week on BBC One.
Joseph Mawle (Jesus), James Nesbitt (Pontius Pilate) Paul Nicholls
(Judas) , Ben Daniels (Caiaphas), Penelope Wilton (Mary) , Denis
Lawson (Annas) and David Oyelowo (Joseph of Arimathea) lead the
cast in this new dramatisation.
The Passion tells the story from three points of view - the religious
authorities, the Romans and Jesus.
Jane Tranter, Controller BBC Fiction, said: "The Passion
is an example of BBC Drama's commitment to deliver ambitious and
distinctive projects. It is a privilege to be making such a major
piece of drama from the brilliant Frank Deasy, directed by Michael
Offer with an amazing cast."
Mgr Keith Barltrop, director of the Catholic Agency for Evangelisation.
(CASE), said: "In a dramatic adaptation clearly there will
be aspects of the series that do not correspond entirely with
Catholic teaching. Nevertheless this broadcast is an opportunity
for evangelisation since many people will be talking about Jesus
and The Passion story, who would not otherwise be doing so. This
important story is central to both British and European culture.
I would encourage everyone to think of ways to reach out to people
and signpost them to the Gospel and church services during Holy
Week and Easter, using the support and resources offered by CASE."
CASE has created a dedicated resources
page on its website which can be found at: www.caseresources.org.uk.
Episode 1: Sunday 16 March, at 8pm on BBC ONE
Episode 2: Monday 17 March, at 8.30pm on BBC ONE
Episode 3: Friday 21 March, at 9pm on BBC ONE
Episode 4: Sunday 23 March, time TBA, on BBC ONE
© Independent Catholic News 2008
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