London’s Free Easter Play: Your Guide to Where and When to Catch the Performance in 2024

After a brief hiatus, the Passion of Jesus has announced its return to Trafalgar Square on Good Friday 2024. This live portrayal of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus features a 100-strong cast and has developed a considerable reputation and following since its London premiere 14 years ago. The production, which is free to attend, has become a beloved Good Friday tradition for many Londoners and visitors alike. In 2011, the Queen awarded the cast and crew the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into bringing this powerful story to life.

The Passion of Jesus, Trafalgar Square, 29 March 2024 includes two shows that start at 12 pm and 3.15 pm, performances of 90 minutes each. Notably, the event is free to attend, and it’s recommended that attendees arrive about 40 minutes before the performance start time to secure a good viewing spot.

Wintershall, a theatre company based in the Surrey countryside, has been putting on its monumental play, The Passion of Jesus, in central London since 2010. The Passion of Jesus regularly attracts more than 20,000 people, and Wintershall describes it as “a gift to Londoners and visitors.” The play has been praised for its powerful portrayal of the Easter story, and it is set to be a highlight of the Good Friday calendar for many Londoners. 

London’s Trafalgar Square is set to host an ambitious staging of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion by the Romans, followed by his miraculous resurrection on Easter Sunday. The show will feature scores of Roman centurions, branch-waving crowds, and the erection of three crucifixes, promising to be an electrifying and moving experience.

The two 90-minute performances will be mic-ed up, with large screens placed around Trafalgar Square to ensure that everyone can see. To make the show inclusive, British Sign Language interpretation is provided for both shows.

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has said of the event: “The Passion of Jesus welcomes thousands of Londoners of all backgrounds to Trafalgar Square to enjoy a live reenactment of the story of Jesus’s final days and resurrection. This inspiring performance has become an Easter tradition in the heart of our capital as we build a fairer and better London for all.