Manchester Passion

NO JOKE - just think of the logistics of all the movement of people - the crucifxion walk, the trail that "Jesus" took.

The sites may be slightly better and more photogenic but access to these areas and trying to affect many people to notice/take part the event would have been lost. Newcastle and Liverpool are not concentarted enough, like Manchester.

To be truly honest, if I'd had my way it should have been done in Den Haag - plenty of open spaces, plenty of access, plenty of multi-religions, plenty of ethnicity, aonly thing lacking is a sense of adventure!!

may I just point out that Ste has just sent to me a private message calling me a "F'in scum T**t."

Although I very much appreciate open discussion, I do feel that vulgarity is not required.

As I have already said I do NOT come from Manchester, although I do come from the North West but now live in Den Haag (or to put it in English for Ste - The Hague, in the Netherlands).

Back to the show...

Couldn't agree more- fantastically done, Keith Allen as superb as always (can't wait for Robin Hood!)

It takes a magnifient organisation to take over a city centre like this, with such meticulous planning, logistics etc. and it all worked perfectly.

A marvellous team effort. To quote the BBC:

"This is what we do"

Any by God (deliberate pun), no other broadcaster would have the balls to produce such an amazing hour of free public theatre.

I do admire Keith Allen (not in that way). He has a fantastic lifelike style to his acting rather than being dramatic in most things he does.

Atheist Rant

Er...can I just point out the whole thing was based on a made-up story in the biggest most shameless* piece of propaganda ever - the Bible? Religious programming should be banned. It is corruptive and misleading and makes people believe in untruths. And to bespoil Manchester with it - a city of vibrancy, diversity and progress - the three things Chrisitanity and religion fight so hard to quell. Did the illuminated cross go anywhere near the Gay village? It was sickening and revolting to see such hypocrisy and downright arrogance. Thank heaven (I'm being ironic with that BTW) it was stuffed away on BBC3, so that any 18-35year olds tuning in would have immediately tuned out again.

Atheist Rant Over


* keeping the Manchester theme there, see?

(I did also think it was a bit gay) Said again, from an Atheist point of view for legal reasons.

I've probably just walked into an instant banning or something for saying that.

Why is it a pity? I prefer to watch shows without parts of the picture blurred, don't you?

The Crucifiction started in The VIllage (the so-called gay quarter) then travelled through China Town, then down towards the War Memorial in St Peters Square then between the Central Library and the Town Hall Annexe, tehn it did a right into Albert Square.

Jesus started at the Ubis centre (a museum of a city) then across to Exchange Square (probably the most and vibrant part of Manchester nowadays with the new-look Arndale, Selfridges, Harvey Nics, M&S, The Triangle (a more upmarket shopping centre), The Printworks entertainment centre and the country's biggest NEXT store!!!! and not forgetting The Manchester Eye! - from there he was taken along Cross Street (one straight road) to Albert Square.

It may be based on a story in the New Testament Bible but the Passion is much much more than that! I, to am an athiest after being tried to be brought up on the Roman Catholic Faith, but Passion is about uniting people, uniting differences, uniting relgions. It is about togetherness - UNITY. The Passion is more of a tradition in the UK and bares very little resemblemce to religious indoctrination, unlike in other European countries where catholicism (by the way the word means "universal, including many or most things according the Oxford English Dictionary) is still very predominant.

The Manchester Passion was about story telling, was about the eclectic mix of Manchester Music, was about showing off Manchester Pride, was about Manchester people's enjoyment and celebration. Whether one is athiest or of a different religious faith or of a different race or of a different sexual orientation - Manchester Passion had enough to offer every single person some sort of enjoyment and celebration.

Christianity, like all religions, has hypocrasy in it but the stories (fables) contained in any relgious scripture are, on the whole, still valid today. All that needs to happen is for these fables to be told with a modern twist.

It's a pity because there could be some real saddo in the real world complaining to the BBC and its governors about blatant product placing/free advertising for the companies shown!!!!!

I would advise reporting him. I can't say I'm familiar with you as a poster so that'll probably boost your chances of getting him a one week ban

if the atheists don't like it they can ignore it.
(Christian rant)

Easter is a Christian celebration whether you like it or not and it's about time the TRUE message of easter was portrayed so people can see there is more to it than gorging on chocolate eggs for a fortnight.

I guess any town could have done it with the right organisation had it been Manchester, Northampton, Barrow-in-Furness or Newport on the Isle of Wight

Easter is an ancient Pagan celebration whether you like it or not.