A new musical play will debut in a Harrogate church next week, written, staged and performed by more than fifty members of the congregation.
The Last Week of Jesus in Jerusalem takes to the stage of St Mark’s Church, Leeds Road, Harrogate on Monday March 30th for three nights.
It has been written by congregation member Peter Knowles, who is also the Production Manager. While containing some humorous moments, the musical draws on the events surrounding Holy Week, the week leading to Easter as described in the New Testament Gospel of St. Mark.
The music combines well-known Easter hymns with new songs and incidental music written by Peter Knowles and St Mark’s musician and GP, Jonathan Dixon.
Peter Knowles says that part of his inspiration for the Last Week was a book of the same name by theologians Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. “The book inspired me to write the script as Borg and Crossan’s approach addressed and gave answers to many of the questions I had concerning the scant and often contradicting record of events found in the Gospels. Borg and Crossan concentrated on Mark’s Gospel as it is regarded as having been written the nearest in years after the time of Jesus’ life on earth”
Peter added that he has introduced both humour and some previously unknown characters. “I haven’t put everything from the book into the play. I have also added several characters neither in the book nor in the Bible. References to un-named people in the Bible have been given an identity - perhaps several being amalgamated into one.”
It’s not the first time that a home grown musical has been created by the congregation at St Mark’s. In 2004 the musical ‘Fools for Christ’ was staged and previous productions have included ‘Courageous Journey’ and ‘Hopes and Dreams’.
The Last Week will be staged at St Mark’s Church on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (March 30th, 31st and April 1st) at 7.30pm each evening and tickets in advance or on the door are £6. Click here for booking details
Pictured above (left to right) are musical directors Ruth Cundy and Janet Brown, Director, Mark Edwards, and writer and production Director, Peter Knowles.