Religious films have become very popular since the sweeping movement of Mel Gibson’s 'Passion of the Christ' all over the world. Wide diversity and creative ideas are springing up and resulting in the production of more religious projects.

An open air play now on show in Scotland featuring the life of Jesus Christ can be described as one of the simplest ones; however, it has continued to attract thousands.

The production commenced on 16th June, and every afternoon, a four-and-a-half-hour open-air play with a cast of 80 people, a cow, a donkey and several sheep, is shown in the Dundas Estate, Queensferry, Edinburgh. The last show will be on this Sunday.

Rev Tom Cuthell, co-producer of 'The Life of Jesus Christ' and minister of St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh said, “I think there is a lot of interest in the personality of Jesus, bypassing the institutional churches. Jesus still has the power to magnetise people. People are increasingly aware of a spiritual dimension to their lives, but are bypassing spiritual institutions. Throughout His life and ministry Jesus operated outwit the parameters of organised religion.”

There is no distance between the performers and the audience in the open-air play. The audience literally become involved in the play. For example, when the 5,000 are fed, everyone gets a piece of bread. The audience find themselves part of the crowd who condemn him to death, who follow him to the cross, who watch him rise again.

The actor playing Jesus Christ, who claims himself to have no religion, testified the grace he felt in that the play never failed to amaze him. He commented on one memory from last year, when on a cloudy day during the scene describing Jesus being crucified, the clouds moved and the sun shone down at just the right time. This made him ask, “Who really is the lighting designer for this show?”

Rev Tom Campbell has realised, “The church is always looking for new ways to reach out to people, new ways for people to experience Christianity.”

The play, directed by Suzanne Lofthus, has been produced for the Dundas Foundation, a Scottish registered charity. Please visit the website http://www.jesus-at-dundas.com for further information.