Wintershall Players Present THE LIFE OF CHRIST at the Wintershall Estate, Surrey in June

The Wintershall Estate is the setting for The Life of Christ, described as a "five hour open-air play that tells the story of Jesus from the Angel’s Annunciation to Mary to the Ascension on the banks of the sea of Galilee. The 38 separate scenes show the childhood and manhood of Jesus, The Miracles He performs and the life changing teaching He delivers. The lakes and hills lend themselves to showing Christ in all his glory."

Now in its thirteenth year The Life of Christ recreates the Holy Land on the pastures, lakes and woodland of the Wintershall Estate where the audience becomes the crowd that would have followed Jesus in those days along with a cast of 200 in biblical costumes and colours, accompanied by donkeys, sheep and lambs.

Writer and producer Peter Hutley explains ”I strive to make settings, drama and message as realistic as possible in every scene so that the audience can smell the camels and horses, see the dust and beauty of the costumes and walk along with Jesus”.

The Life of Christ is directed by the West End theatre Director and Chairman of the Guildford School of Acting, Ashley Herman. Renowned nationwide for his portrayals of Jesus, and now in Australia, James Burke-Dunsmore leads a company made up of experienced volunteers from in and around London and the South East. Over the years 18 different babies have taken the part of baby Jesus, six of them Peter’s own grandchildren. As well as the menagerie of animals there are over 700 separate costumes including Roman Armour of the 12th legion.

For over 20 years the Wintershall Players, based at Wintershall in Surrey, have each year performed the famous passion plays to tens of thousands of people and in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday. Their now famous Wintershall Nativity takes place from 19th – 23rd December.