On Palm Sunday at 2pm in the Abbey Gardens the Abingdon Passions Play will begin and run for about 2 hours.

The play needed a Donkey and one was found one thanks to an appeal and article in the Abingdon Herald.

They needed Roman Soldiers and now some have been found thanks to the Can Do Martial Arts who will swap kimonos for tunics and armour.

There will be choirs and bands – lots of community groups will take part. There will be performers, and a crowd.

The crowd can start to mingle from 1pm on Palm Sunday when the Abbey Gardens will become Jerusalem and Abingdon -> Abingammergau. Each scene will take place in a different location within the Abbey Gardens: from Jesus’ triumphal entry on the donkey, his arrest and false trial, and finally his crucifixion and the resurrection. The crowd can follow the action as it unfolds.

In the case of heavy rainfall the performance will take place in St Helen’s Church.