Panel Discussion – Edinburgh Passion Play 2025: Behold the Man (dir. Suzanne Lofthus)

Join Suzanne Lofthus (Director), Dr Sarah Parkhouse (Manchester), Rev Donald Smith (Scottish Storytelling Centre), Prof Rachel Muers (Edinburgh), Dr Shadaab Rahemtulla (Edinburgh) and Prof Helen Bond (Edinburgh) to discuss this year's Edinburgh passion play performed by Cutting Edge Theatre.

We'll ask about the role of passion plays today: what's it like to stage such a huge event? How malleable are Jesus traditions? and can they be made relevant to modern and local concerns (gender relations, poverty, hope, inclusion etc). How does the play speak to modern anxieties over masculinity? And does the play work as a piece of public theology?

This event is a joint initiative with the Centre for Theology and Public Issues; we are grateful to the Royal Society of Edinburgh for funding.

The Edinburgh passion play will be performed in Princes Street Gardens on Saturday 19 April 2025, 2-3:15pm.

In line with fire safety regulations attendees using a wheelchair must be able to self-transfer to an evac chair in order to safely evacuate the building.

This venue is fully accessible however, if you require disabled access, please email divinity.news@ed.ac.uk so that we can ensure we accommodate this.