Southampton's Passion Play

It was a great experience to be able to attend a modern Passion Play here in Southampton. It had everything that the medieval plays had - contemporary dress and settings that brought the iconic action right into the midst of familiar urban surroundings; the throng and mix of people doing their own thing while also participating as part of the crowd necessary to witness the trials before Herod and Pilate; the stalls selling food and drink (non-alcoholic), even the modest police presence - both of these direct reminders of complaints made in the 15th century about the circumstances of the York mystery plays - that too many people were only there for the food and drink, and that violence was taking place. This required its own statute banning all edged weapons including 'Carlisle axes'. Happily, I was not aware of any violence other than that in the play itself. It was definitely an experience worth repeating, especially on such an unseasonably mild evening.