CHRIST IN THE CENTRE FACES FUNDING CRISIS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Christ in the Centre faces funding shortfall

An urgent appeal has been made for donations to meet a shortfall in funding for a re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion.

Organisers of the Christ in the Centre play are about £8,500 short of the £43,000 total they need for the event on Good Friday.

The event, which is in its 11th year, attracts about 10,000 people, who watch the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in Humberstone Gate, Leicester.

Event trustee Jonathan Wheeler has urged people to help them reach their target.

He said: "If you have enjoyed the event, if it has made a difference to your life, then we would encourage you to make a donation.

"We cannot run this on fresh air and goodwill.

"If we don't reach the total we need this year, the event will still go ahead.

"But what will probably happen is that we will go into the next year without any reserves and that might mean scaling it back considerably.

"We would have to have a very deep think about whether the current event remains financially viable."

Increased staging and security costs and the addition of a second performance have pushed up prices by about £3,000 since last year.

The Rev Stephen Foster, joint chair of the event's organising committee, said the extra performance was added due to public demand.

The event receives a £10,000 grant from the Diocese of Leicester and £2,000 from Leicester City Council, with the rest of the costs met by donations from churches, individuals and charities. Mr Foster said: "We have some wonderfully loyal supporters who have donated to the cause over the years.

"But several of them have indicated that they cannot be as generous this year as they have in the past, which is understandable."

Christ in the Centre will be staged in Humberstone Gate on Good Friday, March 29, at 11am and 2pm.

Donations can be made to Jonathan Cryer, CitC treasurer, 4 Honeybourne Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5JP. Cheques should be made out to 'Christ in the Centre'.

CITY'S STRONG MIXTURE OF OLD AND NEW

This editorial appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

City's strong mixture of old and new

What does "culture" mean? We ask the question because Leicester is launching a bid to become the UK's next City of Culture in 2017. We probably all have slightly different definitions of what we mean by the word culture. However, the Collins Dictionary defines it as: "The artistic and social pursuits, expression and tastes valued by a society or class."

The UK City of Culture then should be a place which is able to offer outstanding and highly valued artistic and social pursuits. And, given that this title is a national one, it should also be a place with a cultural mixture which represents and reflects the values of modern Britain.

On any assessment, Leicester has a very strong case.

We have seen in recent months the city's long and rich history gain national attention through the remarkable discovery of King Richard III's remains. Visitors to Leicester can learn about the king's life and death at a pivotal point in history, as well as the archaeological quest to locate his last resting place.

It is a story which has captured the imagination of people across the world and gives Leicester a cultural dimension that few other cities can match.

In addition, Leicester is not only a very old city, but also a very modern one. And this is best reflected in its multi-cultural community.

The city is home to many festivals and events reflecting the diversity of its population. The Diwali festival, for instance, is celebrated by thousands of people from many backgrounds. It is a demonstration of multi-culturalism in action.

There are many other cultural highlights: the huge success of the Curve theatre; Dave's Comedy Festival which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year; the classical music programme and other events at De Montfort Hall; and the dramatic recreation of the Easter story through Christ in the Centre, to name a few.

All of these elements demonstrate a thriving and varied cultural programme which appeals to a broad range of tastes.

Leicester has a great story to tell: through its history; its modernity; and its sheer range of venues and events.

We think the case for it to become the UK City of Culture is a compelling one and we wish all those involved in this bid every success.

CELEBRATING OUR CULTURE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury: 

 

Celebrating our culture

Leicester is to launch an ambitious bid to become the UK's next City of Culture.

The city is hoping its multi-cultural history, track record of staging events such as Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival, Diwali celebrations and the Caribbean Carnival will help it secure the title in 2017.

Its bid will also draw on the recent high-profile discovery of Richard III's bones under a council car park.

Bid organisers hope the role could lead to an influx of tourists generating millions of pounds of wealth for the city. They say Leicester's time as the UK City of Culture would feature a large programme of festivals and participatory events.

Leicester is bidding for the title for 2017 as this is when the 2013 UK City of Culture and inaugural holder – Derry in Northern Ireland – will hand over the honour.

So far rivals include Plymouth and Aberdeen, who have already announced their bids.It is rumoured that Nottingham may also enter the competition.Leicester City Council is pledging £50,000 to cover the initial stage of the bid.

In May or June cities will be short listed and, should Leicester progress, a similar amount would be needed to complete the bid.

Businesses and sponsors are being sought to provide financial backing.

Chief executive of Curve theatre Fiona Allan, who is a member of the consortium planning the city's bid, said: "There would be so many benefits if we won. Firstly, I hope people would feel pride in this city. "To win would show we are confident in our cultural offer. There would be a significant media and tourism knock on.

"We have all the ingredients already.

"Leicester is one of the UK's most culturally diverse and interesting cities."

From our Roman history, medieval growth, industrial prosperity to today welcoming people from all over the world to our diverse and vibrant communities, Leicester has rich stories to tell. The king in the car park is just one of many."

While cultural organisations here like Curve already enjoy a global reputation, with significant investment having been made in Leicester's cultural infrastructure and the development of our creative industries, the time is ripe for Leicester to show its creativity to the world." It would be like the cultural equivalent of the Rugby World Cup." Ms Allan said a program of proposed events would be drawn up. She said: "Leicester is known as a city of festivals and there would be a large programme of festivals. We would want some real showcase events.

In recent years, new events – including Indian Summer, Leicester Fringe, Tales of the Riverside and the Green Light Festival – have appeared on the city's calendar alongside established favourites such as the Caribbean Carnival, Diwali, the Spark Children's Arts Festival and the comedy festival." I think people outside Leicester will be surprised by what we can offer," said Ms Allan.

"We need to change the narrative of the city which has been a bit negative in the past. We really underplay ourselves."

"There would also be participatory activities to get as many people as possible involved."

We don't want to announce too many of our good ideas to rival cities. I am sure we will see more bids coming out of the cupboard in the next few weeks."

Cities vying for the title have until April 30 to submit a bid for consideration by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. 

Leicester's bid will focus on its lively arts scene and highlight the breadth of cultural activity taking place, with workshops in museums and galleries, stand-up comedy in city centre pubs, international stars taking to the stage at Curve, and a Bollywood blockbuster – Mad, Madder, Maddest 2 – set to have its world premiere in the city in June.

Chief executive of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce Martin Traynor, is also a consortium member. He was part of a Leicester delegation to Derry last year when the bid was being touted.

He said: "We are convinced this is something Leicester could do very well. We already have a rich multi-cultural offering."

We have suffered from a low international and national profile but that can change."

Richard III is already changing that and becoming UK City of Culture would be another springboard with massive potential impacts."

Leisure and tourism is worth £1.4 billion per annum to the city and county. If we could increase that by just one per cent that would be £1.4 million and could create hundreds of jobs."

City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who is leading the consortium, added: "Becoming UK City of Culture would bring huge benefits to Leicester, giving us an opportunity to highlight the city's history and reinforce its identity, while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy."

A city council spokeswoman said: "In 2008, Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture – a title that business leaders estimate was worth an extra £200 million to the city's economy."

Although the UK City of Culture competition is on a much smaller scale, it's clear that the opportunities for the winner are there to be seized."

The winner will be announced by the Government in November. 

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North and south – the two rivals, so far

Aberdeen, nicknamed The Granite City, is one of Leicester's rivals for the capital of culture title.

It is renowned as an oil city after the discovery of vast deposits under the North Sea.

It is home to a maritime museum, an art gallery, a number of cinemas and hosts the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, said to be the world's largest arts festival for young performers.

The city football team won the European Cup Winners Cup and the European Super Cup in 1983, under Sir Alex Ferguson, and has won the Scottish Premier League four times.

Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam said: "Aiming to win the City of Culture title in 2017 presents Aberdeen with a tremendous opportunity and a terrific target to aim for.

"A proud city like Aberdeen should be aiming high and I have no doubt that everyone will pull together."

Aberdeen City Council chief executive Valerie Watts said: "Aberdeen already plays on a world stage in the competition for business and investment – and bidding to win the City of Culture title will be a huge benefit in terms of putting ourselves firmly on the international map."

The quality of life here in Aberdeen is already very high. We can all now work together to build on that to make the city even better – and to let the whole world know."

The south coast city of Plymouth, in Devon, is also hoping to clinch the title.

The old naval base is home to the annual British Fireworks Championship and is also home for the Royal Marines.

It has a range of cinemas, arts centre and galleries.

Plymouth's bid leaders hope that if they win, the city could host top-class events such as the Brit Awards, the Turner Prize and the BBC Sport Personality of the Year ceremony.

Plymouth Culture Board executive director Abby Johnson told The Herald newspaper: "I believe Plymouth has got such potential. People can help by simply talking up the city and talking up their cultural experiences."She said winning would create jobs, boost creative industries and see visitors' spending rise, adding: "Liverpool got £8 back for every £1 it put into the European Capital of Culture bid."Plymouth City Council and Plymouth University have each pledged £20,000 towards the bid on the condition the £40,000 handout is matched by the private sector.

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Leicester City's Cultural Diary

The main events in Leicester’s cultural calendar include:

Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

The February event – which is thought to boost the local economy by £2 million – annually sees appearances from both world-famous performers and some of the funniest up-and-coming comics, at venues across the city.

Leicester’s Caribbean Carnival has brought the city centre to life every August since 1985, with the exception of 2006.

The celebration attracts thousands of visitors with its colourful city centre parade, street dancing and music.

Leicester’s annual Diwali celebrations are thought to be the largest outside India.

Huge crowds flock to the city’s Golden Mile. The Hindu Festival of Lights began last year with 35,000 watching a lights switch-on spanning a kilometre along Melton Road.

Leicester Pride is popular celebration of the city’s gay, lesbian and bisexual and transgender communities held in late August or early September each year.

Marchers in weird and wonderful costumes parade through the city centre before heading up to Victoria Park for a fairground and concert.

Christ in the Centre is the city’s dramatic recreation of the Easter story, with Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection being played out before thousands of people in Humberstone Gate.

It has become established as one of the biggest and most effective pieces of Christian celebration staged in the country.

TWIST IN REENACTMENT'S TALE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Twist in reenactment's tale

Next year's powerful reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus in the city centre promises to tell the Easter story in a different way to previous years.

The Christ in the Centre event, held each year on Good Friday, will be given a new twist by children's author Meg Harper.

It will be based on her play, The First Easter, which has been performed in both the UK and US.

She has joined the event's producers and is writing fresh scenes to extend the original script, which will premiere at the event in Easter 2013.

It is also the first year the play will be staged twice in one day.

Rev Stephen Foster, Anglican chaplain to Leicester University, and joint chairman of the event's organising committee, said: "One of the strengths of performing this in the heart of Leicester's shopping area is the opportunity to bring the true Easter message to a much wider audience than we have done before.

"We hope holding the second performance in the afternoon will increase the effectiveness of this outreach."

The event's organisers are also asking anyone who would like to be part of this year's religious reenactment to attend one of the two casting workshops being held in December.

Casting workshops will take place tomorrow and on Saturday, December 8, at St Andrew's Community Hall, in Jarrom Street, Leicester.

Both workshop sessions begin at 11am.

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, welcomed thousands of people to last year's event, which cost £40,000 to stage.

Hoards of spectators packed out Humberstone Gate and joined in prayer before watching the traditional Bible story unfold – with some audience members being brought to tears by the powerful narrative.

The play's new artistic director, Sarah Chiswell-Hornett, creative projects producer at The Castle Theatre, in Wellingborough, has been tasked with recreating the passionate atmosphere of the event.

She said: "We want the event to be a community-based telling of the Easter story, using a combination of theatre and music, which will bring people together in the heart of Leicester."

The play's writer Meg Harper has previously penned scripts for similar events in Warwick, where her story The Day They Killed The Son of God was performed on Good Friday in 2007.

This year's performance of The First Easter will take place in Humberstone Gate, at 10.30am and 2pm.

CROWDS FLOCK TO SEE EASTER STORY BROUGHT TO LIFE IN LEICESTER CITY CENTRE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Crowds flock to see Easter story brought to life in Leicester city centre

A gruesome crucifixion scene helped bring to life the power of the Easter story for thousands of people in the city centre yesterday.

The annual Christ in the Centre event was performed in Humberstone Gate and footage shown to the crowds on the big screen.

The performance began with a prayer and a welcome by Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens.

He said: "As we watch and as we pray, we might ask that we shall be given strength to live out the message of this story in our lives, and ensure that what is acted here is made known among the communities where we live."

The performance, which takes different forms each year, was a straightforward, powerful enactment of the Bible story of Jesus's death and resurrection.

People in the audience said they found the performance moving and impressive.

Paul Kaminski, 48, from Evington, Leicester, said: "It was a horrible death, so that's how they've performed it. It's a very professional drama.

"I've enjoyed it and I think the good turnout reflects the fact that there's an interest in the message of Easter."

David Spendlove, 54, from Shepshed, said: "It was very good and a very professional performance with excellent acting. I always come into Leicester to watch it and I like the fact they do it every year here."

Folake Olonode, 30, from Glenfield, was watching the performance for the first time, with her daughter.

She said: "I was surprised there were so many people here. It's so nice to see people coming together to celebrate Easter like this.

"I'm very impressed – they've done an excellent job."

Daughter Farique Fuller, nine, said: "I like it because it reminds me of the story of Jesus."

The performance, which was the 10th Christ in the City event, featured professional actor James Mathison-Kelly as Jesus. A number of paid technical staff supported the dozens of volunteers behind the event.

About £40,000 was raised to cover the cost of staging it.

This year, organisers decided to stage the play entirely in Humberstone Gate, rather than have the performance wind its way through the city centre as it has done in the past.

Nicola Wright, 45, from Stocking Farm, Leicester, who was also in the crowd, said: "I did like it when the actors walked through the city centre, but it is good with the big screen.

"I come most years to see it and it's always a really good performance and a nice way to mark a very important day in the Christian Church."

Pauline Hudson, 55, from Thurmaston, said: "I've been coming here for several years – it's excellent."

Canon Barry Naylor, who chairs the Christ in the Centre organising committee, said: "This year, it's about the hope at the heart of the Christian gospel, which is so relevant right now."

Canon Naylor said he was pleased with the number of people who massed in the city centre to watch the play.

He said: "It's an excellent turnout – there are clearly thousands of people here."

"The wonderful thing is the dedication of the actors and all the others who help bring it off on the day."

The organisers are already appealing for help and volunteers for next year's production.

Meanwhile, hundreds of worshippers gathered in the centre of Market Harborough for a service organised by the town's churches yesterday.

A procession through the town was held before the service, which included hymns and prayers and a puppet show. It was followed by hot cross buns being handed to shoppers.

PASSION PLAY TO DRAW CROWDS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Passion play to draw crowds

Up to 10,000 people are expected to gather in the city centre on Good Friday for a dramatic retelling of the Easter story.

The annual Christ in the Centre passion play, which will be held in Humberstone Gate, will portray the events of Holy Week – from Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his trial, crucifixion and resurrection.

A cast of more than 40 amateurs will be led by Australian-born professional actor James Mathison-Kelly in the role of Jesus.

Mr Mathison-Kelly said: "The challenge to the whole cast is to honour that powerful script and explain why Jesus did what he did.

"I am always conscious that there will be people in the audience who know little or nothing of the story, so we need to tell them what it is about as well. Whenever I read the Easter story, I get a sense of energy from it. Being part of the cast makes you think about it more seriously."

The annual event, which regularly draws a crowd of up to 10,000 people, usually features a procession through the city centre before the play.

However, organisers have said that, due to a drop in funds, they have decided to drop the procession and focus on the play in Humberstone Gate instead.

The event will cost up to £40,000 to stage.

Group spokesman Jonathan Wheeler said: "We were very conscious of the economic situation and cut our cloth accordingly.

"We decided to base all the activity in Humberstone Gate so that we can invest in the staging and communications.

"We are very grateful to the people and organisations who have generously donated to the running costs of this year's event."

Canon Barry Naylor, who chairs the event's organising committee, said this year's event was about spreading a message of hope.

He said: "We know from the fabulous feedback we get every year what a special place Christ in the Centre holds in people's hearts.

"Every year it generates an extraordinary response from the audience, and reminds all those who witness it of the true meaning of Easter.

"In the current economic climate, and with so many people worrying about the future, the message of hope for the future is very relevant."

For more information, visit: www.christinthecentre.co.uk

INTER FAITH WEEK 2011, DAY 3: CHRISTIANITY 101

At 1200 we have the third of ten public meetings for Inter Faith Week, under the series title, “Communities of Faith or Belief in Leicester". These hour-long introductions are being held in Leicester Adult Education College (or, more precisely, in Leicester People's Photographic Gallery, which is part of the Adult Ed College).

Leicester Council of Faiths is hosting these meetings in association with Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service (LASALS). Chris Minter, Head of Service at LASALS, expressed an interest in supporting Inter Faith Week this year and we agreed that this would be an appropriate way for LASALS to do so, by allowing free use of its venue and facilities.

The speaker for this Beginners’ Guide to Christianity – or Christianity 101 – is Revd David Dean, from St Philip’s Centre for Study and Engagement in a Multi-Faith Society.

The photo above is one of two Christian images included in the Favourite Faiths Photo exhibition launched at Leicester People's Photographic Gallery during Inter Faith Week. The picture shows a scene from Christ in the Centre - the Passion Play enacted in Leicester city centre each Good Friday (sourced from Kiran Parmar, reproduced with permission).

CHRIST IN THE CENTRE ON GOOD FRIDAY

I take Harry and Gracie in to see Christ in the Centre this morning. We don't make it in time to see the whole thing and miss the first half, that was performed in the appropriately named St Peter's Square in Highcross, then moved along High Street to Humberstone Gate. We join the crowd there, at the point in the story where Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The second half of the story is played out on a stage in front of the giant TV screen (which was used to great advantage), between Primark on one side (as seen in the photo above) and Superdrug on the other. I took that picture just at the moment in the story when Pontius Pilate infamously washes his hands of Jesus.


I found the whole thing very moving - and some of it distressing. There were clearly many people watching who weren't well versed in the Easter story and didn't seem prepared for the fairly harrowing depiction of these events in the final hours of Jesus' earthly life.


It was a beautiful warm and sunny morning and the event attracted a huge crowd. This was one of a number of public performances of the Passion Play, in diverse forms and settings, taking place in many parts of Britain today.


Here's a link to the report published the next day in the Leicester Mercury. There's a great slide show of photos taken on the day (along with reader's comments, although they barely touch on this event, but focus on the erroneous notion that St George's Day events are banned in Leicester),

Silence will fall

On the way back from St Thomas' the Apostle in South Wigston where Harry was singing in the choir at the Maundy Thursday service, we pass through the city centre shortly after 2100 and see rehearsals for Christ in the Centre, which takes place tomorrow (Good Friday).

In keeping with displaying the bricolage, here's a picture of rehearsals for the Crucifixion in Humberstone Gate, in front of the giant TV screen. I'm not trying to fool myself (or you, faithful reader) that it's a good photo. I snapped it as the giant screen was showing a trailer for the new series of Doctor Who, showing the phrase "Silence will fall in 2 days". That would be Holy Saturday, the day largely forgotten, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This is the kind of thing that simply leaps out to me. The juxtaposition in that moment just seemed meaningful - profound in a banal, everyday sort of way - and in keeping with the question Harry asked me as we left the Maundy Thursday service just half an hour before.

THOUSANDS EXPECTED TO SEE PROCESSION: CHRIST IN THE CENTRE

Today's Leicester Mercury carries an article about the Good Friday public event, "Christ in the Centre". Leicester has become world famous for its celebrations of events related to its faith and cultural communities, such as Diwali and Vaisakhi. I've often heard Leicester people complain that more fuss is made over the celebrations of the city's minority communities, than about anything that would be meaningful to the longer-standing communities. I've often heard them say that there is nothing done here for them. Well, this is one of those events that such people seem to forget, ignore or disregard. "Christ in the Centre" will be performed tomorrow for the ninth year in succession. And it will be followed by a very full and public programme of events celebrating St George's Day. 

I've never had the chance to see "Christ in the Centre" for myself; I hope I can catch some of it this time.

Thousands expected to see procession

By Kelly Pipes 

A dramatic recreation of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection will be performed in front of thousands in Leicester city centre on Good Friday. 

An estimated 10,000 people will gather to see the ninth Christ in the Centre passion play, which includes a procession from the Highcross shopping centre along High Street to Humberstone Gate. 

A cast of 45 amateur performers will open the Easter spectacle at 10am, in St Peter's Square at the Highcross. 

They will act out biblical stories on the theme of hospitality, which they have been rehearsing since the new year. 

Organiser Jonathan Wheeler said: "The square is a fabulous amphitheatre made to have drama performed in it. 

"The Testament stories will be performed against the backdrop of a new environment, quite an inspiring place to do it." 

The 30-minute series of plays feature miracles such as the feeding of the 5,000 and the turning of water into wine at the Wedding of Cana. 

After bringing the Old and New Testaments to life at Highcross, the actors will form a procession behind Jesus, who is played for the first time by actor Walt Kissack. 

The 33-year-old said: "The overriding feeling I have is excitement. 

"It's a performance and a coming together of people who want to share with the wider community a celebration of Easter." 

Organisers say the procession will be a joyful, musical re-enactment of Christ's arrival into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. 

It will be welcomed into Humberstone Gate by Leicester's Christian praise band, Resonance, who will take to the stage below the big screen. 

The music will be replaced by a sombre portrayal of the trial and Crucifixion of Christ, followed by a celebratory representation of the Resurrection at noon, which will then close the play. 

Mr Wheeler said: "The final scenes of the passion play can be a very inspiring, humbling, thought-provoking experience." 

"I come away feeling a wave of emotion. It's a very special event." 

The Bishop of Leicester, the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, will open and close Christ in the Centre 2011 with a blessing. 

The event's organising committee, which also includes religious leaders from the Catholic and Methodist church, has fought to cover its costs this year and has been prompted to start fund-raising for 2012 as soon as this week's play is over. 

A mixture of professional and voluntary stewards have been trained to ensure things run smoothly and to hand out programmes on the day.

To find out more about Christ in the Centre, visit the Diocese of Leicester's website: http://citc.dioceseofleicester.com/