Liturgy as theatre in the Christian faith

Last Wednesday afternoon, a large procession of Christian worshipers made its way down the main street of New Amsterdam, Berbice. In the lead was an open-back vehicle on which was an altar and a microphone from which a member of the clergy could address both the public and his congregation. As the vehicle moved slowly along the street, it was followed by one member of the church bearing a large cross behind whom was a large entourage of persons who walked along in dramatic fashion.

That was, most likely, a dramatization of the highly theatrical characteristics of Good Friday, which precedes Easter on the Christian calendar. An increasing number of churches have been publicly dramatizing the biblical events said to have occurred on this day, but they usually do it on the day itself. It shows how religion turns to theatre for its forms of worship as well as public exhibitions of its faith.

Easter is one of the largest and most important religious festivals on the Christian calendar.  It falls well behind Christmas in grandeur, reach, impact and popularity but is considered the more important of the two to the religion because it celebrates the rising of Jesus Christ following His ultimate sacrifice, which is at the very centre of the Christian faith.