The Passion - Characters
In order of appearance.
John Baptist | Appears only in the first scene, to baptise Jesus |
Jesus | Massive part! |
Angel | Present at the Baptism of Jesus |
Blind Man/Woman | Witness to Christ's entry into Jerusalem |
Poor Man/Woman | Witness to Christ's entry into Jerusalem |
Three Women | Witness to Christ's entry into Jerusalem |
Philip | Disciple. Has lines only in Christ's entry into Jerusalem |
Peter | Disciple. Main character in the Denial of Jesus |
Burghers | Proclaims Jesus when he enters Jerusalem. Lines will probably be shared by a number of Burghers from the Company. |
Judas | Disciple and Christ's betrayer |
Andrew | Disciple and Christ's betrayer |
John | Disciple |
Disciples (7) | The un-named disciples are needed for non-speaking parts in scenes such as the Last Supper. These are James (son of Zebedee), James (son of Alphaeus), Bartholemew, Thomas, Matthew, Thaddeus (also known as Judas son of James, or Lebbaeus) and Simon the Zealot (also known as Simon the Canaanite). Can be played by men or women. |
Marcellus | Washes Jesus' feet at the Last Supper |
Knights | Considerably more than walk-on parts, the Knights have a good deal to say and do, including having the longest scene - the Crucifixion - almost to themselves. In the darkest of moments, the Knights still manage to provide a little humour, though falling short of the pantomime style some of the characters had in The Nativity. For example, assigned as the workmen to erect the cross, their arguing about how to do it is timeless.
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Malcus | Probably a named Knight, in addition to the other 4. Has his ear chopped off by Peter in a scuffle when Jesus is arrested, which is miraculously restored by Jesus. |
Cayphas | The High Priest Caiaphas. The spelling presumably comes from the York play on which The Passion is based. Contrives to have Jesus arrested and executed. |
Annas | Side-kick of Cayphas |
Woman | Denounces Peter, and gives evidence at the Trial of Jesus |
Pilate | Roman governor. The scene with his wife has some humour. Whether this is quite Basil and Sybil Fawlty remains to be seen, but it could be! |
Percula | Wife of Pilate. Ambitious and power-hungry. The scene with Pilate has some humour. Whether this is quite Basil and Sybil Fawlty remains to be seen, but it could be! |
Barabbas | Criminal released instead of Jesus |
Death | Makes a brief appearance to take Judas |
Simon of Cyrene | Carries Christ's cross on the road to Calvary |
Mary Mother | Mother of Jesus, appears towards the end of the play to mourn. Key link to the third play in the cycle, Doomsday, as this continues the story where The Passion leaves off. |
Mary Magdelene | Mourns Jesus |
Mary Salome | Mourns Jesus |
Miner | Delivers the final monologue, similar to Death in The Nativity. Breathtakingly effective. |
The Company | The entire company are called upon to greet the audience as they come in and join the action at various stages. There is less full company action than in The Nativity. Most of those with named parts will also take part as general members of the company. |