Even though this site is mainly about Passion Plays in the UK, the work from the UK spreads far and wide and the Gospel story has been performed in Uganda and now being developed in Kenya. This is through the work of Hillery Ingram Smith, who is the Costume Co-ordinator for the Easter Play in Edinburgh. Here she tells of her work in Africa.

My part in the Edinburgh Easter Play is costume director and it was in this role that in 2007 I was invited by a visiting Ugandan Pastor to take the Edinburgh Easter Play to Kwangala from where,  in 2008 and 2009 a cast of between 50 and 60 people from different church denominations have taken it all over their country. They have named the play ‘The Revealed Truth’ Audiences have flocked to see these outdoor performances and many lives have changed because of them.

To encourage ownership of the Play, I ask the people to give it a name of their choice which will best resonate with the country and area in which it will be performed.

In December 2009 an invitation came from a church in Nyanza which is a Province of Kenya. They too set up a cast from various church denominations and are at present rehearsing with the intention of performing it at the end of August of 2010, calling their production ‘Christ the Saviour’.  In this unexpected calling to facilitate the Play, although I advise on all aspects of setting it up, primarily my job is purchasing fabric and helping to create costumes so I will be there to help it further and to see it in action!

Each cast numbers between 50 and 70. The Ugandan cast had only Christians who came from  different church denominations. In Nyanza the cast also included non Christians. In both countries they came from locally and also from the surrounding areas, some travelling long distances to be part of it.

During the time I was in Uganda about 2600 people saw the play. It has been performed 4 more times since then and at a guess I estimate a further 8000 may I have seen it. I understand about 70 people have made professions of faith as a direct result of the performances

To put on the Play in Africa there are less regulations and legalities than in the UK but the overall performance is very similar and very attainable. It is great to see the play having such an impact across this continent!