Easter: we come to pray, to worship, to walk, to listen and to watch….
The next few days are among the most sacred times for many faith communities. Christians celebrate Easter – the most holy time in the Christian calendar. A time when Jesus Christ’s triumph over death is honoured. His resurrection means eternal life is granted to all those who believe in Him.
Easter is a time when Christian communities gather to affirm their faith to share in the sorrow of Good Friday, and the Joy of Easter Sunday. In Durban, there are various events celebrating the true meaning of Easter in which the public are warmly invited to pray, to worship, to walk, to listen and to watch.
The Durban Catholic Players’ Guild are delighted to present the 15th Durban Passion Play, fondly known as the “Oberammergau of Africa” at the Playhouse Drama Theatre from April 6 to 16 for a 14-performance season over Easter.
Performed every five years, the play is directed by Dawn Haynes and Jessica Wardle and strives to restore the true meaning of Easter. It is an epic-scale dramatic production depicting Jesus' Passion, covering the final period of his life from his visit to Jerusalem to his execution by crucifixion and ending with the Resurrection. It is performed by a large cast who volunteer their time and skills as part of their Lenten preparations. The play involves seven months of commitment from a 130-plus cast who receive no remuneration. Booking through Webtickets.
The Diakonia Council of Churches is calling people of faith to its annual ecumenical Good Friday Service and Procession in front of the Durban City Hall, at dawn on Friday, April 7, starting at 06h00.
The service is hosted by Diakonia Council of Churches, working closely with eThekwini Municipality and a team of volunteers. The initial part of the service takes place in front of the Durban City Hall. Followed by a silent procession around the City Hall precinct, continuing past the Workshop and the old prison wall, then through the streets of the city and back to the Durban City Hall, while the bells of St Paul’s solemnly toll. The service ends with the flowering of the cross.
Each year, the service highlights a particular aspect of national suffering or injustice. The service this year will focus on the theme of “Abundance” – taken from John 10:10 “Jesus said I came that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The theme looks at some of the stumbling blocks to living life abundantly: GBV; recovering after covid; rebuilding after the floods; poverty and homelessness; xenophobia; crime and corruption and lack of opportunities for young people.
The sermon will be delivered by Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). Entry is free and all are welcome.
Over Easter, the ever proactive Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo is hosting a season of many Easter-themed movies on their large screen, as well as other carefully chosen films to complement the Easter theme. 2.00pm Sunday, 02 April: Schindler’s List;
Monday, April 3 at 18h00: The Greatest
Story Ever Told;
Wednesday, April 5 at 18h30: Brokeback
Mountain;
Friday April, 7 at 19h00: Jesus Christ
Superstar;
Sunday, April 9 at 14h00: Sister Act;
Monday, April 10 at 14h00: The Ten
Commandments.
Feel the spirit of Easter at the Durban
Symphonic Choir’s performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion at St
Joseph’s Cathedral, Mariannhill on April Sunday 2 at 15h00 which vividly
portrays the events of the Passion of Christ. Scored for tenor and bass
soloists, organ and mixed choir, the piece combines recitatives, solos, and
masterful choruses that range from the graphic mob shouts of Crucify Him to the
ethereally beautiful meditation at the work's centrepiece God so Loved the
World.
Handel’s choral masterpiece, The Messiah, the world’s best loved oratorio, receives a triumphant Easter Sunday return to The Playhouse Opera on Easter Sunday, April 9 at 15h00.
The semi-staged production, which has become a landmark event on the Playhouse calendar over the past decade, will be accompanied by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jeremy Silver. Directed by Ralph Lawson, the production will be graced by leading South African soloists, Ondelwa Sisanda Martins (soprano), Jacobi Benkenstein (mezzo), Luther Sakhumzi Martins (tenor), and Bongani Kubheka (bass baritone) – with the renowned Playhouse Chorale performing under the expert choral direction of Juan Burgers.
Booking information, times and details for all the above events can be found on www.pubmat.co.za
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