GATTON
COMMUNITY
THEATRE
Production artwork for The Passion - July 2000.
John Durnin
The Passion
July 2000
GCT was founded in 1999 in response to a proposal from Revd John Smith, the then new Rector of Merstham, that a community based theatre production of The Passion be created as a contribution to millennium celebrations in this area of Surrey.
Artistic Director, John Durnin, chose to base the production on the Passion sequence of the York Mystery Play cycle, and having proposed a promenade approach to the use of the Gatton Park site, he then adapted the twelve key plays from the sequence according to the requirements of an open air promenade. In April, professional actor Tom Peters was cast as Christ and rehearsals commenced with a community cast of 70.
The final production of The Passion, staged in July 2000, exceeded all expectations, despite its ambitious approach. The Middle English of the original texts was retained, but was juxtaposed with an entirely contemporary production concept: the Romans became squaddies, Caiphas and Annas appeared as senior representatives of the Anglican and Roman Catholic hierarchies, Pilate became a female politician, angels appeared as roller-blading indie kids, Mary Magdalene became a teenage Goth. The wandering medieval dance band that supported and commented on the unfolding narrative as it wove through ten locations in Gatton Park further enhanced this deliberate anachronism.