A PASSION for Kendal is breaking new ground this Eastertide with a fresh script and use of the town's newly installed Wi-Fi.

Once again, Caroline Moir’s script has given a modern voice to the 2,000 year-old story with a 24-strong cast sweeping the story along over three days.

For the first time, Kendal Community Theatre is streaming action from every scene location live into Kendal United Reformed Church, allowing people with mobility issues to see the whole of Good Friday's performance as it unfolds without having to walk from place to place.

“It’s just another way that we are trying to to be inclusive and let the performance be seen by more people, and for some of those it would be a struggle,” explains Chris Taylor, KCT's artistic director.

"The wifi masts coincide nicely with the play’s route so those who watch from the church will not miss anything."

The action begins On Wednesday, April 1, with the dramatisation of Plot to Arrest Jesus, a new addition of intimate political theatre taking place at Kendal Town Hall where the High Priests, Scribes and Herodians hatch their plot to have Jesus ‘removed.’ (Seats are limited to 50 with performances at 6.30pm and 8pm. Tickets are available from Marketplace Books and Open Door Properties 115-9 Stricklandgate).

On Good Friday, A Passion for Kendal starts at 4pm, on Kendal Library steps. The drama sees High Priest Caiaphas and Annas, played by Richard Sutton and Gordon Lawson, conclude their deal with Judas - and Jesus's fate is sealed. The spectacle continues as Jesus carries his cross down Highgate with a large Choir of Disciples sing a haunting Threnody all the way to the Brewery Arts Centre garden for The Crucifixion.

The conclusion to the play on Friday features the wonderful voice of soprano Rachel Little singing the moving Mary’s Lament, composed by Roland Fudge, at the foot of the cross accompanied by a special choir.

The Empty Tomb and Resurrection has been completely rewritten and will be staged at Abbot Hall Park on the Saturday evening (April 4) at 8pm.

Stephen Lockwood, who was Judas in 2013, plays Jesus with Ron Wood making his KCT debut as Judas. Pontius Pilate is played by David Hales and Janet Warriner reprises her role of 2012 as Mary, Jesus' mother and Janet Warriner reprises her 2012 role as Mary, Jesus' mother.

Spanning three days, a full professional public address system will ensure that the drama is heard by everyone. All the actors will have radio mics and the rig will move from scene to scene.

"We - KCT - chose to stage the Passion Play to build a tradition. Many Passion Plays are staged on a regular basis - every few years, sometimes three or four years, or 10 years like Oberammergau. It's a great story and Kendal makes a great setting. It's also a great opportunity for actors, singers, musicians designers and a lot of other groups and people to get involved in a big community project up close and personal with an audience.