A New Jerusalem: The Passion in Trafalgar Square by Luca Irvine, Darrick Wood School.

If one was unwittingly walking through Trafalgar Square on April 15th, one might have easily believed that they had been transported back to Roman occupation, disappointment would be the wrong word to describe their subsequence realisation that they were in fact in the brilliant performance of The Passion of Jesus by over 100 actors and volunteers of The Wintershall Players. 

The day of the performance could not have been more fitting, the spectacles of providence recreated in the Square were made even more striking by the bright blue sky and the burning hot sun that was its centrepiece. A point made especially poignant to intrepid journalists who arrived too late to find a seat or shade! 

Although the military march of Extinction Rebellion and the narcissistic roaring of motorcycles provided a uniquely modern flavour to the sounds of Roman Judea, the actors were commendable in never once acknowledging the loud bustle of the world around them. 

The performance lasted about two hours, filled with brilliant moments of interaction, be it a sheepish Judas shuffling past us or the Christ himself dragging his broken body past us on his way to ultimate sacrifice. All performances were commendable but that of James Burke-Dunsmore, who played Jesus Christ, was absolutely spectacular and added an intensity of feeling that brought home the tragic humanity of Jesus. 

Coming into it as an Agnostic, I left with a greater understanding of the sheer power of the sacrifice-story that drives many Christians in their endeavours to help the world; a point underscored by the solemn prayer offered to the people of Ukraine by a representative of the Ukranian Archbishopric, a stark reminder of the modern occupations, sacrifices and passions that make up our world.  

To answer Blake's centuries old query, Jerusalem was indeed 'builded here' albeit in a Square more 'satanic mills' than 'green and pleasant'.