Jerusalem Award
BBC Radio Solent has won the coveted national Jerusalem Radio Award for its broadcast of The Passion.
Winchester was taken back to the days of Roman-occupied Jerusalem as the Winchester Passion told the Easter story around the city's historic locations - Oram's Arbour, the Great Hall, Law Courts, Westgate, Buttercross and of course, the cathedral.
A captivating performance by Israel Oyelumade as Jesus led a cast of the key characters in the story of the days leading up to Jesus' crucifixion.
Crowds at the Great Hall
The 12 disciples, Pontius Pilate, Herod and the temple priests had a supporting cast of professional and amateur actors, musicians and dancers drawn from all walks of life in the city.
Inspired by the Manchester Passion of 2006, the Winchester Passion was written by Philip Glassborow and was an ambitious project to bring together Winchester churches along with community groups, Winchester University, Winchester Community Choir, youth and student groups.
Contemporary production
Although the idea of Passion plays goes back to medieval 'Mystery Plays', the Winchester Passion was given modern media twists - BBC Radio Solent presenter Tim Daykin played the part of the narrator, a TV news anchorman bringing breaking news of the story to the audience.
Mary of Magdala at Jesus' feet
Staging a play at outdoor locations around the city was no mean logistical feat and was achieved with the support of the Army, BBC South, the city council and a team of technicians who used more than 50 radio microphones to cover the action as it moved through the city.
Three giant outdoor screens relayed the scenes to the massed crowds - thought to number over 10,000 - as the story unfolded.
The play started at Oram's Arbour with Jesus entrance into the city on a donkey. The rain clouds gathered - but the predicted rain did not come - and the audiences swelled at all the outdoor locations despite the biting March cold.
The tide of people flowed down towards Winchester's Great Hall where the party at Lazarus' house and the Last Supper were played out along with Judas Iscariot's fateful decision to betray Jesus.
The law courts and sculpture garden were the apt locations for Jesus' trial by the Temple Pharisees, Pontius Pilate eventually washing his hands of Jesus and the crowd calling for the freeing of Barabas.
Crucifixion
Winchester's High Street became the Via Delorosa as Jesus began his journey carrying his cross down the hill towards the Buttercross.
Israel Oyelumade played Jesus
The floodlit cathedral was the spectacular setting for the Passion's emotionally-charged ending when Jesus was put to death on the balcony high above the audience on the Cathedral Green who looked on transfixed.
The crucifixion and resurrection scenes were accompanied by a new composition of Adoramus - A Winchester Prayer by Sir John Tavener performed in the cathedral by the Waynflete Singers and Southern Voices.
"Joys and delights"
Writer Philip Glassborow was pleased with the event: "It's been a roller coaster of joys and delights. Wonderful things have happened and on the whole it has been incredible."
"There were long dialogue scenes but people were listening and it really seems that people were taking it on board."
The Bishop of Winchester, Michael Scott-Joynt, said: "I found it a remarkable evening. The group of people, originally quite a small group of Winchester ministers have been brave enough to embark on this astonishing project.
"My prayers will be about what God may be working in all these folk as they reflect on what they've seen."
