We’ve had a wonderful day with the amazing team from 4FrontTheatre who have performed their show ‘Fisherman’s Tail’ three times – once at the Hill Primary School this morning, once for pupils of Gooseacre Primary School this afternoon and once for a public show this evening at St Helen’s Church Hall.
The team of four men worked their socks off carrying props to and fro and leaping around the stage in oilskins! They played the roles of Simon and Andrew, James and John, fishermen called by Jesus to be ‘fishers of men’ in a show which told the life story of Jesus in breathtaking detail. Songs looked at his life and ministry, from the parables to the miracles to his deliverance ministry and Messianic claims and also dealt with the crucifixion and resurrection in a simple but powerful way. The show contains enough slapstick and humour to keep the children giggling, but there is also pathos and seriousness when dealing with denial and death. The scenes when the angels tell Mary the news that Jesus is alive are probably amongst the funniest in the show; I’ve never seen it told from the angels’ point of view quite like this!
The four fishermen:
Slapstick comedy:
The fishermen in their boat, called to follow Jesus (represented by the lifebuoy… after all, Jesus saves!)
Fishermen facing a stormy sea:
Peter’s denial of Jesus:
‘John’ playing ‘Mary’ when the angels appear to her after the resurrection:
Jesus appearing to Mary after the resurrection:
Doubting Thomas feels the evidence for himself:
The finale:
Our thanks to both Primary schools in Thurnscoe for their support of the event and to St Helen’s for allowing us the use of their church hall today. We can’t wait for tomorrow’s shows at Lacewood Primary School and Carrfield Primary School in Bolton-on-Dearne.