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A simple delivery with a powerful message – this was Hand in Hand’s presentation of the Holy Week story through Hosanna! in St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham, on 7 March.  

Hand in Hand groups are for adults with and without intellectual disabilities who meet to socialise and to pray using drama, music and sign language.

The Hosanna! cantata was written in 1980 by Anne Ward, and later adapted to become an accessible and energetic experience for an inclusive cast. At St Chad's this Lent, narrators and singers told the story while actors portrayed the Passion story in mime, moving from celebration to fear and then despair, and finally to the joy of Easter morning, using minimal props such as a few palm leaves, a cross, a sheet and some bread.

The actors and narrators were from two Hand in Hand groups, one based in Arundel & Brighton and the other in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, who were joined by members of the Coventry SPRED (Special Religious Development) group, friends and fellow parishioners. Many of the participants have learning disabilities or are neurodiverse, brought together by faith, friendship and a love of drama.  The result was a unique and powerful retelling of the Easter story as well as a joyful celebration of a diverse and inclusive church, where everyone belongs and has a role.    

The small but appreciative audience enthusiastically played the part of a raucous Palm Sunday crowd in Jerusalem. One audience member was later called out to take the role of Simon of Cyrene and help carry the Cross. The portrayal of Jesus led the audience through the changing emotions of the story, engaging, thoughtful and at the end deeply moving - reflected in the compelling performance of the musicians and singers from Our Lady's and St Peter's, Leamington Spa and the Cathedral choirs.

Hosanna! ended with a challenge to everyone, that everyone has their role in the Body of Christ, as the cast turned to the audience to perform in sign language, Christ has no body now but yours, by JM Talbot.

The A&B Hand in Hand group are grateful to St Philip Catholic School, Barnham, the loan of a minibus and to Dan McNamara of the RE department for driving them to Birmingham.

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A&B Hand in Hand group meets on the first Monday of each month at Our Lady of Lourdes, Rottingdean,  7–8.30pm. For more information and to get involved, contact Anne Ward; E: wardanne458@gmail.com

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With thanks to Anne Ward for sharing this article and photograph.