BBC1's new four part drama, The Passion, is attracting a lot of attention in church circles. The BBC's website says,
The Passion is a bold event drama, retelling the last week in the life of Jesus Christ and written by Emmy Award winner Frank Deasy (Prime Suspect 7). The Passion will be shown throughout Holy Week on BBC ONE, drawing to a dramatic climax on Easter Sunday.
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 unique and compelling dramatisation.
Visually arresting and rich in colour, the story is rooted in the chaotic world in which it took place - the city of Jerusalem during Passover week. Set in the political and religious context of the time, it combines both narrative tension and thematic power to convey the events that took place that week.
The Passion places the audience at the heart of the action by telling the story from three points of view - the religious authorities, the Romans and Jesus. For the first time, all the key players are intimately characterised, with Jesus (Joseph Mawle) at the centre. The drama begins with Jesus' prophetic entrance through the East Gate, following him to his crucifixion and its startling aftermath.
Episode 1 is on Sunday 16 March at 20:00, Episode 2 on Monday 17 March at 20:30, Episode 3 on Friday 21 March at 21:00 and Episode 4 on Sunday 23 March at a time to be confirmed.
Update 18 March: The BBC has just announced that episodes 1,2 and 3 of The Passion will be repeated en bloc on Easter Sunday 23rd March at 2.15pm after the Eastenders Omnibus. This is intended for all those who've missed it during the week or would like to catch up. The final episode, dealing with the resurrection appearances, will then transmit at 7.30pm. The team at www.rejesus.co.uk have produced resources to back up the series, including exclusive interviews. They are intended as a source for those who would like to go a step further in exploring faith. There is a link to the site from the front of the Church of England website.
