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the passion of christ
design role: Set and Costume Designer, Scenic Artist. director: Charlotte Conquest company: Creation Theatre venue: Oxford Castle open air courtyard date; 2007 The Passion of Christ was commissioned as a new play, an interpretation of the Passion story, based on a mixture of the Gospel versions. Lizzy Hopley’s text cuts the disciples down to five and incorporates a central character, The Angel of Death. Her presence brought a mythic, elemental quality, linking this contemporary production back to the medieval mystery cycles. The chorus of angels was made up of a community choir, choreographed by Aidan Treays, to become crowds of believers and non-believers, and to instigate changes of scene. The set was a stage built on three levels, painted to match the stonework of the surrounding castle walls, so that the performance space achieved sympathetic unity. The chorus was costumed in similar stone and sand colours, modern clothing dyed and ragged, making them both the people and the spirits of the desert. Their masks hint at ancient Greek theatrical masks. Other characters wore contemporary clothing, with Jesus and the disciples imagined as modern-day working men. review extracts ‘A gritty, high-energy potrayal of Jesus’ last weeks on earth…’ The Door ‘The production as a whole blazes out with a commitment that does credit to all concerned..’ Giles Woodforde, The Oxford Times ‘The Oxford Passion is a fascinating, well-designed production’ Leonie Caldecott ‘An emotive piece of theatre, regardless of personal belief' Andrew Blades, The Stage
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