This Easter, National Theatre Wales and Rondo Media will host a series of events in Port Talbot to mark the first anniversary of the groundbreaking production of The Passion, attended by cast and crew including Michael Sheen and Owen Sheers.

Memory Exhibition

National Theatre Wales, who produced last year’s theatre production with WildWorks, will host a multimedia memory exhibition in the Aberafan Shopping Centre. Everyone and anyone who took part in or saw the production, either in person or online, is invited to contribute photographs or videos of their very best memory of last Easter to the exhibition. Other items on display will include costumes and props. From Monday 2^nd April 2012, the public is invited to the shopping centre to scan photographs, record their memories, and share anecdotes from last Easter. A shed will be installed in the shopping centre in which the public is invited to film their favourite memory. The exhibition will be on display on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday, and entry will be FREE.

In a statement (see attachment), Michael Sheen said: “Think of the moments that have stayed with you, write them down or paint them, or come and let us record you talking about them. If you've created anything in response to what you experienced last Easter, send it in so it can be part of this exhibition. And let’s remember and celebrate not only what we all helped to make happen a year ago, but also what it has created since, and what it can go on inspiring in the future.”

Anyone wishing to submit content for the exhibition that reflects their best memory of The Passion should email it to passion@nationaltheatrewales.org, post a blog on National Theatre Wales’ online community at community.nationaltheatrewales.org or send it by post to National Theatre Wales, 30 Castle Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1BW, by Wednesday 4th April 2012. Organisers also will be at the shopping centre from Monday 2^nd April to collect submissions.

The Gospel of Us world premiere

Following the memory event, film director Dave McKean will present the world premiere of his fiction feature The Gospel Of Us, starring Michael Sheen.

For this two-hour film, McKean has woven together the play's key dramatic scenes with his visual artistry to bring this bold adaptation of The Passion to cinemas. The Gospel Of Us is a Rondo Media production in association with The Film Agency for Wales, co-produced with National Theatre Wales and WildWorks.

The world premiere will take place at the Apollo Cinema Port Talbot, at a screening introduced by Dave McKean and Michael Sheen. Tickets will be available to purchase from the Apollo box office on 0871 220 6000 and from www.apollocinemas.com. Additional public screenings will take place on Easter Monday (9^th April) in Port Talbot, details to be announced. The Gospel Of Us will play in cinemas across the UK throughout the Spring, following the world premiere in Port Talbot.

Other planned events

• Michael Sheen will attend a Q&A session hosted by the Royal Television Society at the exhibition at 2.30pm on Easter Sunday. This event will be FREE.
• Signed copies of Owen Sheers’ limited edition novella The Gospel of Us, published by National Theatre Wales will be on sale at the exhibition.
• Owen Sheers will read extracts from and sign copies of The Gospel of Us, which has been re-published by Seren Books, at the Port Talbot Library, 1st floor, Aberafan Shopping Centre on Saturday 7^th April, at 1pm.

THE PASSION: Memory Exhibition

Dates: 6^th-8^th April 2012 (Good Friday-Easter Sunday)

Times: Good Friday 11am-5pm; Saturday 9am-5pm; Easter Sunday 12midday-5.30pm

Venue: Aberafan Shopping Centre, Port Talbot

FREE ENTRY

THE GOSPEL OF US: Film Screening

Date: 8^th April 2012 (Easter Sunday)

Time: 8pm

Venue: Apollo Cinema, Port Talbot

Box Office: www.apollocinemas.com

0871 220 6000