Passion play deemed best ever

Drumheller, AB (CLN Newsbrief) – Staged in perfect surroundings that helped transport their audiences back to the time of Christ, the 2008 version of the Canadian Badland’s Passion Play, presented the first two weekends of July, saw an attendance of over 10,000 people – the event’s largest audience since 2003.

"Our audience seemed to consist of more young families and more international visitors than ever," reported Randall Wiebe, the Passion Play’s Artistic Director.

"Some 130 actors, 70 singers, 12 instrumentalists, three horses & three donkeys, as well as numerous other volunteers worked together to put on what many claim was our best performance ever," Wiebe added. "The weather was amazingly co-operative – except for a bit of a wind storm the first Sunday which added extra drama."

"Steven Waldschmidt was particularly moving in the role of Jesus and Tim Hildebrand reprised his engaging portrayal of Matthew the tax collector and narrator," Wiebe said.

For information about the Canadian Badland’s Passion Play and to see more photos of this year’s event visit: www.canadianpassionplay.com.