Gillingham Oberammergau

During Holy Week in 1971 our parishioners staged a passion play. This was the brainchild of our assistant priest Fr. Kieran Doherty, ably assisted by Ruby Llewellyn.

After weeks of rehearsal during Lent, and following the Sunday evening Mass the Knights of St Columba built a stage on the altar using the benches for support.  Monday was rehearsal day, Tuesday and Wednesdays the performances following which everything were dismantled in time for the Maundy Thursday service.

The haunting music that was used throughout, Mahler’s 4th Symphony, helped to make the play a very moving celebration of the death of Jesus and was spoken of by parishioners every Easter for years afterwards.

Some of the cast from memory were _Jesus - Peter Kelly, Mary – Joan Staples, Caiphas - Leo Kelly, Joseph of Arimathea - Harry Barton, Judas – Tony Driscoll, Pilate – Tony Luckhurst, Romans soldiers – Pat Bishop and Julian Fothergill. Other members of the cast included, Peter Glanville, Bill Waller, Bill Burton, Roger Gregory, Harry O’Shea and several children of the parish.

Tony Luckhurst