Milestone for Edinburgh Easter Play

THE annual Easter Play in Edinburgh marked a major milestone in April with its latest production – Behold the Man.

The Play, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, took place on the day before Easter Day in West Princes Street Gardens and this year looked at different models of masculinity in re-enacting the days leading to Easter Sunday.

Scottish-Nigerian actor Michael Ogidi became the first person of colour to play the role of Jesus in the Edinburgh Easter Play.

Suzanne Lofthus, artistic director of Cutting Edge Theatre, who has directed the play since its first production in Princes Street Gardens in 2005, said: “I made a commitment at the start that the play would be different every year, and would speak to issues in contemporary life.

“This topic has become more timely than we ever could have expected after the Netflix drama Adolescence and stories about Andrew Tate and toxic masculinity all over the news. The play couldn’t be more relevant.”

This year, the play was supported by experts from Edinburgh University’s School of Divinity who have acted as consultants: Helen Bond, Professor of Christian Origins, and Dr Shadaab Rahemtulla, senior lecturer in Islamic Studies, who first suggested the theme of masculinity. He said: “In our society, young men and boys in particular are bombarded with toxic images of what it means to be a man. You have to be strong and competitive, even cruel, you can’t be vulnerable.

“Jesus does not fit these notions of masculinity. He was reflective and deeply compassionate, he served the poor and healed those who were outcasts in society. In the play, we’re trying to reclaim masculinity in a way that is progressive and put forward positive role models.”

For more information visit www.easterplay.org