The Easter Story told live in the
heart of Edinburgh

Many thanks to all those who braved the weather and came along on Easter Saturday to watch the play. Despite threatening cold weather, the sun came out and it was a lovely day after all. We had a number of challenges on the day but, that’s live theatre!

There will be a recording of the play here soon.

We hope you enjoyed the play, a bit different this year! Our director has had a break and already considering next year’s production!

This year, we partnered with the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh to explore Jesus’s figure then and now, how he was a positive masculine figure despite living under oppression, and his ability to defy societal perceptions of masculinity. The script of ‘Behold the Man’ was adapted for this purpose by our director Suzanne Lofthus.

There will be opportunities to donate to the play at the Information Tent where you can also pick up free literature. Every production costs in the region of £30,000 and we need to raise all the finance each year. You can also donate via our Stewardship page – https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20109801

You can still join our cast and crew

We are always keen to welcome new members, so contact us if you want to be part of the Easter Play 2026. We start rehearsals in October and rehearse every Wednesday evening, but we also need crew and volunteers to help on the day especially.

Interested ? Email us at admin@easterplay.org for more information.

Our Edinburgh Easter Play Treasure Hunt is back!

Guess what? Our Edinburgh Easter Play Treasure Hunt was back! Around 60 children registered and had a great time!

We hope to repeat it next year

The Political Situation in First Century Judea

At the time of Jesus, the small territory of Judea was under direct Roman rule, with a governor (such as Pontius Pilate) in charge. Much of the day-to-day running of the country was left in the hands of the traditional Jewish leaders, the priestly aristocracy in Jerusalem. But these men always had to operate under the beady eye of Rome – one wrong turn and they could lose their position. The Roman governor came to Jerusalem a few times a year to see what was going on, bringing with him a number of auxiliary troops. Not surprisingly, tensions were always high during these visits, and riots and upheaval were common. As the capital city, Jerusalem was rich and cosmopolitan. Although Jewish, it had been heavily influenced by both Greek and Roman culture, and Jerusalem’s elite shared the same ideas and outlook as elites in any other city. At the centre of everything was the Temple, where sacrifice was offered to the Jewish God. The whole complex had been lavishly refurbished by Herod the Great, turning it into one of the wonders of the ancient world. At Passover, the city was full to bursting with pilgrims and tourists and tensions were high.

How to be a man in the ancient world

Like other societies at the time, Judea was thoroughly patriarchal. The fundamental unit of society was the household, and the male head had a great deal of power over his family (and slaves, too, if he had them). Legally, politically, and economically, men were in charge. But it wasn’t enough just to have all the power, it was important that others held you in honour and respect, that you were seen to be “manly.” (The opposite was to be shamed, humiliated, or to be a laughing stock.) Men could become manly in a number of different ways. Coming from a good family automatically gave you a certain respect and standing, as did wealth. But the best way to assert your manliness was through glory won on the battlefield, through a display of courage, endurance, quick wit, and prowess with the sword. Even if you weren’t victorious, a noble death for your country established an enviable legacy as a manly man.

Not everyone was cut out for warfare, of course, and there were other things you could do to enhance your manliness. A man skilled in oratory, who got the better of others in debate, would also be seen as a good male role model, as would a just father at the head
of a well-ordered household. A “true man” was expected to show moderation and restraint, not to become too emotional or passionate about things. But he was very much an alpha male – active rather than passive, striving to be first at the expense of others, ready to dominate others (especially women and his social inferiors).

A manly Jesus?

In some ways, Jesus does fit the manly stereotypes of his day. He has amazing abilities and is able to cure people, drive out demons, and even command the sea and the weather. He acts as a great benefactor when he feeds 5,000 people [counting the men!]. He travels the country with twelve male disciples, and his quick wit and intelligence allow him easily to win debates with opponents. All
of this marks him out as a manly man.

Another place where Jesus loses his manliness is at the cross. Crucifixion was a slave’s death, reserved for bandits and nobodies. Throughout this part of the Gospel story, Jesus becomes entirely passive as other people do things to him. He’s handed over, nailed to a cross, and made fun of by a whole range of people. In the eyes of the world, he’s entirely humiliated and shamed. Of
course, the Christian claim is that it’s precisely in this shame and lack of manliness that true honour is found. The Christian message turned much-received wisdom on its head, reaching out to the poor and marginalised and urging followers to seek honour in service, manliness in putting others first.

Prof Helen K. Bond
University of Edinburgh