‘No Greater Love’ set to captivate hearts

By Josh Low

Proclaiming the beauty and intensity of Christ’s Passion is the aim of the upcoming Archdiocesan theatrical production ‘No Greater Love’.

Held over two evenings on the 28 March and 11 April at the Don Bosco Creative Arts Centre in Glenorchy, the Passion Play will bring Christ’s Passion to life in a bid to help viewers encounter the Lord in a deep and impactful way.

Leading the production is Vicar General, Fr Shammi Perera VG, who gained much experience in drama and theatre at the G.K. Chesterton English Academy in Sri Lanka’s National Seminary.

“This early exposure led me to participate in several English productions, including The Wedding Feast at Cana, Titanic II, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, and Murder in the Cathedral during my major seminary days,” Fr Shammi said.

Mentored by two accomplished thespians, Haig Karunaratne and the late Fr Claver Perera, an enthusiasm to see a whole new vista of the power of drama and theatre was ignited in him.

“Similarly, being under the influence of these two towering figures of performance art, I too came to experience the impact of theatrical expression to tell human stories,” Fr Shammi said.

A previous role in the production of a Passion Play at St Mary’s Cathedral by St Mary’s College and Guilford Young College students following his move to Tasmania, inspired in him a desire to produce it again.

Writing and directing the play, Fr Shammi is supported by co-producers, Bellerive-Lindisfarne Assistant Parish Priest, Fr Kasun Dananjaya, and Ruth Sternberg.

Cathedral Parish Administrator Fr Bernard Perera and Alex Rodriguez are also serving as music directors, with more than 50 people involved both as cast and production crew.

The Passion Play, Fr Shammi says, involves priests, young people, and adolescents from parishes across the Southern region of Tasmania, with many coming from Sandy Bay Parish.

“Through drama and theatre, we aim to convey the depth of God’s love for humanity, revealed through Christ’s suffering and death. We see ourselves as instruments in His hands, bringing this message to life,” Fr Shammi explained.

“Because the Passion Play is deeply rooted in Sacred Scripture, the cast members engage profoundly with the Lord, allowing them to experience His Passion in a whole new light.

“We all know this is not merely a theatrical performance but a profound spiritual experience for the cast and the production team and eventually for the viewers.

“I hope that they will all encounter the Lord in a deeper way in their own spiritual journeys,” he said.

Fr Shammi added that prayer has been the spiritual engine and driving force behind this initiative.

“We have invited people to pray for this intention, seeking spiritual support for the journey ahead, [with the] Carmelite nuns in Launceston and Sandy Bay parishioners lifting us up in prayer. I wish to ask the readership of the Catholic Standard to kindly do the same.

“When we offer our talents, gifts, and abilities to the Lord, He can do incredible things—touching and transforming hearts in ways beyond our understanding.”