Written by retired teacher of Baglan primary school, Mrs Denise Turner

The Passion Easter 2011

As a result of the afternoon tea held on March 14^th, the children in the school choir were invited to sing in the opening scene of The Passion on Good Friday, April 22^nd. The scene took place in glorious sunshine on Aberavon beach. There were lots of extra rehearsals, which children willingly gave up their lunchtimes to attend. There was a rehearsal too, on the Saturday before the Easter weekend (which meant Year 3 Katie Clement had to rearrange her birthday party!). There were also extra rehearsals for Oliver Davies in Year 5, who played the part of Michael Sheen (The Teacher) as a child and three Year 6 girls, Samantha Evans, Darcy Morgan and Naomi Westwood, were chosen to play the Three Fates as children. Year 3 brothers, Joseph and Thomas Davies, were picked to be filmed for a scene in St. Mary’s churchyard, as the young Legion twins. We are also very proud to say that former Baglan Primary School pupil, Kristian Phillips, appeared as a member of the main cast, in the role of Sergeant Phillips. Many other ex-pupils acted in the bigger community scenes. Former pupil, Lloyd Griffiths received an acknowledgement and thanks from Michael Sheen for the review he wrote in Cardiff magazine, ‘Buzz’.

The documentary about the making of the play has already been televised on BBC Wales and the film of the play is expected to be screened next Easter. The pupils and staff involved all thoroughly enjoyed this unique and unforgettable experience. It was a real privilege to be a part of this amazing community production which was inspired by Michael Sheen. Michael was delighted with the part that our school played and thanked the children himself. What an inspiration to our children, to be able to work with such successful Baglan people and to perform with the community of Port Talbot.

8th March 2012

Adele Thomas from National Theatre Wales came into school this week in order to interview pupils who had been involved in the Passion last Easter. The interviews with Oliver, Maddi, Alys, Victoria and Alfie were filmed and will be shown at the Passion exhibition being held in Port Talbot this Easter. Adele and her film crew will be in the town centre in the next few weeks, talking to anyone who took part in the Passion. Perhaps, if you were one of the invited guests, you might like to talk about your experience the day Michael Sheen came to tea in our school; or if your child was taking part with the choir, dancing or bell ringing, were you expecting it to be the great success it was. Before she left, Adele came to listen to the choir sing and had a short chat with some other children who had taken part in that special weekend.

• the emotion of the coming together of generations in a ‘memories tea party’, prepared by enthusiastic and generous staff for pupils to chat to grandparents and visitors about ‘old Port Talbot’

• disbelief that Michael Sheen was actually sitting in our staff room, chatting to star-struck staff and enjoying a mug of tea with us in a most down-to-earth way, which should come as no surprise

• the thrill of the school choir being asked to perform on the beach, in the arrival scene of the Company man

• sheer excitement for the pupils chosen as the Teacher as a boy, played by Oliver Davies, the three Graces as young girls played by Samantha Evans, Darcy Morgan and Naomi Westward and the Legion twins as young boys, played by brothers Joseph and Thomas Davies

• the bewilderment of walking to the Taibach Rugby club to take part in a poetry workshop with some young man called Owen Sheers and walking back to St. Theodore’s church, thoroughly inspired and wrung-out by this literary genius, who had been able to dig deep into the buried emotions of this mixed bag of ordinary folk on this extraordinary Saturday afternoon

• fun and enjoyment felt by building dens and shelters with people I had never met before, in a warehouse I had never set foot in, but had passed every day on my way home from school

• the spine-tingling warm-up song we sang with Sue, which ended with us all around her, totally trusting and unified as a whole, even though none of us had a clue what we were about to experience

• the stupidity of my concerns expressed to Bill and Sue of WILDWORKS and Adele of NTW, at that rehearsal in the warehouse, that nobody in Port Talbot knew anything about the event and would we in fact have an audience.....?

• kindness expressed by all WILDWORKS people on that particular occasion and the huge generosity of spirit shown always, to anyone who offered a suggestion, allowing us to believe in The Passion as our own

• the weather! Sending out letters to parents to ensure that their children were warmly wrapped up with woolly hats and gloves for the rehearsal and then provided with sun hats and sun screen for the performance the following week

• the solemn, gentle and loving tone of the Palm Sunday service the week before The Passion

• the buzz of the choir, with the huge crowds behind us when we moved to the centre of the slipway to sing ‘I bob i’n sydd ffyddlon’

• the unusualness of large crowds in the Civic Centre square, unwilling to move after the dramatic scene that had taken place and the quiet and eeriness of Station Road on the Good Friday

• the incongruity of standing in the graveyard of St. Mary’s in nightclothes, whispering and chanting long-held memories of family and friends, then strolling through the town centre in said nightclothes, casually and comfortably chatting to those I knew

• the anticipation of the Saturday night to come; picnic chairs reserved in the Labour Club car park, a lifetime connection with the place and the area stirring up emotions

• tears falling at the roof-top mention of a woman who walked to work along Western Avenue – my mother

• a ramshackle site of shelters and refugees, presenting a strange spectacle for passing cars and trains

• the town centre shrouded in dim light for the washing of the teacher; the two mothers lovingly cradling their son to the sound of trickling water, hand bells, harp music, gasps and sobs

• finally marching, almost like the old Whitsun processions, along the familiar route of childhood, meeting people not seen for years, not sure about the protocol for solemnity or pleasure, but knowing that it was unprecedented and unrepeatable......and yet it continues. It had begun.