Religious groups back new stage drama based on the life of Christ

A stage production of the life of Christ, which has the backing of the island's four major Christian Churches, as well as the support of the Muslim and Jewish communities in Ireland, is planned for the millennium. The Nazarene 2000, a passion play produced by Ms Sam Andrews, will have a strong contemporary flavour and is expected to be staged at the Point theatre in Dublin, as well as in Belfast and Cork. It will be televised on RTE on Good Friday night next year.

Among those involved will be Mr Fred O'Donovan, who is artistic consultant and Ms Phyllis Ryan, founder of Gemini productions, who will be artistic director. Mr John McColgan, of Riverdance, is to assist the producers while its executive director, Ms Sam Andrews, has eight years experience in producing passion plays.

Ms Andrews said the production will be "the most creative event marking the birth of Christ" and will involve a cast of up to 200 people of all ages drawn from communities across Ireland, including some well known actors and personalities. "The primary aim is to involve a wide cross-section of people both religious, non-religious and social," Ms Andrews said.

The cost of the venture is estimated at more than £1 million, which it is hoped will be raised from the Churches and the corporate sector. The Government's millennium committee has promised to match the amount raised. The Iman at the mosque in Clonskeagh has offered financial assistance, while the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community, Dr Gavin Broder, has also commended the project. The Catholic Church's Jubilee Committee chairman, Bishop Laurence Ryan, agreed in April to write to all the island's Catholic bishops to seek funding for the passion play. In a meeting with producers, Mr Seamus Brennan, of the Government's millennium committee, emphasised the necessity of securing backing from all the Christian churches.