Re-enactment of Jesus' crucifixion in Epsom town centre attracts hundreds on Good Friday

Starting at Dulshott Green at 10am, the passion play saw an actor playing Jesus carrying his cross towards Epsom’s marketplace, where the crucifixion was represented.

Reverend Sue Curtis, chair of Churches Together in Epsom, devised, wrote and directed the majority of the play and said up to 700 people came along to watch.

She said: "The aim was to bring the narrative alive with dialogue, monologue and song.

"The trial, Jesus’ agonised prayerful appeal to God and his subsequent betrayal and arrest were staged.

"The spectators became the crowd, who called for crucifixion as a response to statements of Jesus that showed a bias to the poor and called for sacrifice.

"The soldiers mocked him, women he knew lamented the horror of his fate and the refrain 'Sometimes it Causes me to Tremble and I Don’t know How to Love Him' echoed the poignancy of his execution."

A youth choir, Song Squad, performed an original song, aiming to portray the uncertainty Jesus’ friends must have felt when they found his tomb was empty, and the cast and crowd joined together to sing joyful hymns that spoke of the hope of resurrection.

Members of the Epsom churches joined with the Ewell Council of Churches to provide a tent for quiet reflection, information and prayer in the market square until 1pm.

Hot cross buns were provided by the Epsom Methodist Church.

Rev Curtis added: "We were pleased a large number of people were able to share in the drama and rain that had been threatened earlier in the week largely held off.

"The churches are delighted we are able to portray this testimony to the events of Good Friday and Easter.

"It is good for the churches to have a chance to work together in a project that reaches out into the community."

John Warburton from Christ Church played the role of Jesus in this year’s passion play.