Manchester Passion – a modern twist for an ancient production

BBC Three marked Easter with a major event broadcast live on Good Friday from the streets of Manchester, which saw Jesus singing Joy Division and Judas using the words of Morrissey.

Manchester Passion was billed as a contemporary retelling of the last days of Jesus' life using popular music from the cream of Manchester bands, including Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, Oasis and Stone Roses.
The show was made by the BBC's Classical Music TV department which has been responsible for Proms in the Park, and follows the success of Flashmob: The Opera - a live opera event staged among commuters in London.

Albert Square in Manchester city centre provided the main focus of the hour-long performance where a 16-strong orchestra accompanied the songs, and a giant screen relayed scenes from across the city.

A crowd carrying a giant cross walked in a procession from Sackville St Park, via Chinatown and St Peter's Square to the focal point at Albert Square. At the same time, Jesus and the disciples made their way from Cathedral Gardens before converging on Albert Square for the trial scene with Pontius Pilate.
The event concluded with the resurrected Jesus singing from the top of Manchester Town Hall.
As Lighting Director Bernie Davis explains the main challenge was to coordinate a live broadcast event over five separate sites, in areas of public access on a busy shopping day in the city.
Bernie looked after the main stages in Albert Square while LD Steve Whittaker took care of Exchange Square and Cathedral Square where the last supper and the betrayal and of Jesus take place.

“Cable runs were a problem in the street scenes so we kept lighting to a minimum in these areas. We just used an assortment of Arri 2ks , 1.2 Msr, Pars on local dimmers and had ELP crew on hand with hand kits.” Explains the LD.
Thousands of people descended on Albert Square which was illuminated by a 6K mounted on a cherry picker. Two stages were set up in one corner and although on the surface they looked very similar featuring two identical lighting rings, they actually performed quite different functions.

Firstly the host stage where Keith Allen compared from and where scenes from the passion play took place contained a range of Mac 600’s, Pixel Pars, Pixel Lines and Par Cans.

4 lights were deployed to illuminate the audience while 2 x Pani follow spots operated by local crew tracked the performers.

As Bernie explained “on this stage Pars were used to create a theatre style cross light so that everything was evenly lit with no selectivity. Virtually every part of the stage was illuminated. This area needed to be flexible as most of the comparing and some scenes took place here. Also the finale sing song was delivered from here where all the cast would congregate.”

Adjacent was the Music Stage which housed the orchestra. This area was predominantly backlit creating more of a light entertainment feel rather than that of a pop concert.

“The musicians need to be out of the elements and therefore set back from the front of the stage. Pars were used to subtly light the faces of musicians. They were only used at 20% at the front whereas at the back they were up at 100% where I could indulge in more varied and stronger colour changes… including a red, yellow and green look.”

Bernie’s Proms experience had taught him to consult with the musicians to make sure they are comfortable. For example he described how he purchased some special battery LED music stand lights for use by orchestras.

“These are much safer and tidier as there are no cables and wires. Being LED’s they are also very bright and provide excellent score visibility for the musicians. ELP keep these in store for us for such occasions.”

Praising the work of the ELP Manchester crew, the LD conceded that there had been many changes from the original lighting brief. Hardly surprising for such a bold innovative project! “Darren Fletcher and his ELP Manchester crew were all local boys so they knew the streets inside out. Their local knowledge was invaluable.”

The climax of the show was the resurrection scene where Jesus (played by Darren Morfitt) appeared at the top of the town hall balcony to the Stone Roses’ I am the resurrection. Various 4k hmi and 2.5 hmi’s lamps were placed around the balcony and town hall roof to illuminate the area.

All the power for the Albert Square site was provided by ELP’s Twin set 200KW generator. Operated by Colin Goodacre this supported all technical equipment on location.

CREW LIST
Bernie Davis – Lighting Director
Darren Fletcher – ELP Gaffer
Sinbad – ELP Manchester Staff
Matt Smith – Manchester Staff
Rory Mackay – Board operator
Pete Griffiths – Electrician
John Lockwood – Electrician
Graham Hulme Electrician
Colin Goodacre – Genny Operator

BROADCAST TIME
Live on BBC 3 at 9pm and repeated on BBC2 at 11pm on Friday 14 April

ACTORS
Primal Scream vocalist, Denise Johnson was Virgin Mary.
Tim Booth, lead singer of James, plays Judas,
Darren Morfitt (Dog Soldiers) plays Jesus
Nicholas Bailey (Dr Antony Trueman in EastEnders) plays Peter.
The whole event will be presented by actor Keith Allen (Bodies, 24 Hour Party People)

MUSIC
Jesus sings You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side (Morrissey)
Mary sings Cast No Shadow (Oasis)
Jesus sings Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division) at the Last Supper.
Mary sings Search For A Hero (M People)
Judas sings Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now (The Smiths) as he betrays Jesus.
Jesus sings Sit Down (James) to the sleeping disciples
Jesus and Judas sing Blue Monday (New Order)
Peter sings I Am The Resurrection (The Stone Roses) when he betrays Jesus
Mary sings Angels (Robbie Williams)
Jesus and Pontius Pilate sing Wonderwall (Oasis)
Mary sings Sunshine After The Rain (Elkie Brooks)