Massive thanks to all involved in Saturday's conference. Especial thanks are due to all who generously hosted guests overnight and welcomed them so hospitably. Many delegates pointed this out as a highlight of their experience and those who travelled on the day felt they had missed out.

Thanks also to the wonderful Jane and Mike Swift and their family who not only provided their usual refreshments after Friday night's "Voices" but then laid on the most sumptuous lunchtime meal for over 70 people on Saturday.

Thanks to Barry and the St. Andrew's team of stalwarts who provided, hospitality, guidance and refreshment throughout the day at HQ.  And of course to all the experts who led the workshops, notably to Rob Summers who came up from Somerset to lend his unique skill with all things "techie" on our behalf, to Pat and Peter for their financial and legal acumen and Freddie, Trevor and Bruce and their new helpers at the crucifixion workshop. To Alan for his work with the pyrotechnics and Laurie for his ingenious Spear technology. Lewis obviously must be mentioned too as he joins the growing list of those sacrificing their all for the Passion Play - crucified six times so far and counting...(still a long way to go to catch up with Simon!)

To the cast of "The Last Supper"; a fabulous rendition which was loved by all who saw it. We received many lovely comments often remarking on how the inclusion of "wives" and children enhanced the scene tremendously. Thank you Jack and Lily!

The whole event would have been impossible without the relentless hard work of the crew and the many members of the company that pitched in to help them as required under the magnificent leadership of our new Production Manager Hannah Swift. A masterpiece of organisation and efficiency.

I know many others too numerous to name contributed in many unseen or unsung ways, doing things like helping with the microphones to facilitate the panel sessions (Adam) and sorting the costumes (Sue, Jane and MIke) and simply being around and available and chatting to visitors.

We gave them a conference like no other and can be justifiably proud of our Passion Play community.

​God bless, Kevin.

Hi everyone,

Just a reminder that a one-off performance of "Voices for Easter" will be taking place next Friday 28th September at 8 pm in North Street Halls, Hornchurch. Many of the delegates for the next day's conference will be in attendance and it would be great to give them a warm welcome and a feeling of the fellowship that the Hornchurch Passion Play has engendered in our community.

Tickets are £6 on the door and  will include a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink and a hot-cross bun (if we can source any at this time of year!)

This will also be a great opportunity for those of you who have purchased tickets for our Armistice Supper on the 27th of October to exchange money for tickets or to buy them if you have not yet got any ordered.
 
Merchandise for 2020 will also be available to purchase or order, including the new high-quality embroidered polo tops.
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I hope to see many of you there,
God bless, Kevin.x

Hi everybody,

First may I wish you all, on behalf of The Hornchurch Passion Play Committee, a happy and spirit-filled Holy Week leading up to the joyous celebration of Easter this year.

I recently met with the trustees of The Passion Trust and can confirm that Hornchurch will be hosting the National Passion Conference on Saturday 29th September this Autumn. A packed Agenda has been agreed and will, I hope, involve many of our community in preparation and on the day itself.

We plan to run four workshops, sharing our expertise in; script and rehearsal process, Crucifixion, dealing with fundraising and the council, and technical stuff and will need people to help with all of those. We propose to perform a version of our "Last Supper" scene (not on the green but in North Street Halls!) and nearer to the date this will obviously require some rehearsal. To make it as easy as possible I would suggest that where characters who played in the 2015 cast are available they would repeat their roles as Apostles, wives etc. However I may need to call for volunteers to fill in where they are indisposed or unavailable.

We would like to be able to offer to host delegates within our community, rather than make them have to stay in impersonal hotels, and if anyone could offer an overnight "billet" on Friday 28th September I would be very grateful if you could let me know in the near future, so that we can get an idea of how many delegates we could accommodate.

There will be a performance of "Voices for Easter" in North St. on that Friday night and I would envisage hosts meeting their guest at that event and taking them home for supper afterwards. I feel this would not only make them feel very welcome but also offer a personal insight into the effect being involved in the Hornchurch Passion Play has had on individuals within our community. 

This will be a great opportunity not just to share and develop Passion plays around the country, but also a valuable advertising opportunity for Hornchurch 2020. I do hope many of you will be able to be involved and will exhibit your customary generosity and hospitality to our visitors from all over the nation.

Please feel free to speak to me with any questions at Friday's March of Witness or by phone on 01708 226117.
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God bless, Kevin.x 

Following our latest committee meeting last Thursday evening I have a number of items of news to share with you: 

• Firstly our "Burns Night" was even more successful than it has been before and we have put £2,130 into the Passion Play fund! A huge thank you to all who contributed to that wonderful event.
  
  
• You will be pleased to hear that Mike and Jane Swift, who led the catering team this year have also agreed to go ahead and cater for another "St. George's Night"!  
  
  Due to prior commitments we will be holding this on the weekend following St. George's day itself; on Saturday April 29th. This will follow the format we established last year and mirrors the "Burns Night" insofar as a dramatic piece of poetry will kick off a three-course meal, to be followed by brief speeches and two lots of dancing: medieval before the raffle draw and a disco afterwards.
  
  We are holding the ticket price at £20 per head and tickets (limited to 125) go on sale at 0900 on Monday 13th February. They are only available from me via e-mail at this address or by phone on 01708 226117. Please place your order promptly to avoid disappointment.
  
  This will be a black-tie event with the option of dressing as a character from English history or folklore and, as last year, you are requested to bring your own drinks and glasses. A complimentary tot of Mead will be served to toast the flag!
  
  
• "Voices for Easter" will take place this year on Thursday 6th April in the North St. Halls and will be a perfect opportunity for those of you who order "St. George's" tickets to pay for them and pick them up! Look out for further publicity closer to the date.
  
  
• On the weekend of 28th January, Dave Southernwood and I attended the National Passion Trust conference in Leicester, where we had been invited to talk about the Hornchurch Passion Play and share insights into the production and performance of Passion Plays. We were very well received and as a result two other plays being performed this Easter, one of which is using our script, are borrowing our "Roman" uniforms and staves to feature in their productions. This sort of co-operation I feel is truly in the spirit of Passion Plays, several of which are being staged up and down the country for the first time this Easter. Our own play is held up by the Passion Trust as one to which others might aspire and emulate.
  ​

​God bless Kevin.x

Welcome to the new website.

I'll be posting on here regularly from now on to let you know everything thats going on as we accelerate towards the next production in 2020. Later this month Dave Southernwood and myself will be going to Leicester where we have been invited to speak at the national Passion Play conference and will share some insights into the vision behind our production and the way we go about putting it on.

Meanwhile in the run up to our latest fundraiser I am very happy to say that we are SOLD OUT for "burns Night" once again. However if you have been unlucky in your attempt to purchase tickets this year or are unable to attend for any other reason, you can still contribute to the success of the occasion by offering to sponsor one of our "Chieftain" haggisses, or the "wee dram" to accompany the toast, or our live Scottish Piper. The defraying of any of these expenses very much boosts the profit for the evening and thereby supports the budget needed to maintain the high production standards of our show. If you would like to contribute in this fashion please contact me via the website or the Passion Play e-mail. 
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I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year,
God bless, Kevin.x