How can the mysteries of the faith be expressed o­n stage or film? Mel Gibson?s rather gory answer to this question is currently to be seen in cinemas across the land but for a more thoughtful and more fun version of the Passion with plenty of other biblical stories thrown in, take a look at the South African production of The Mysteries which is now available o­n DVD and Video.

This retelling of the Chester Mystery cycle uses a multiracial, multilingual South African cast to present a colourful, choral stage production. The origins of the cast are used to the full ? A Xhosa speaking Mary greets her Afrikaans cousin Elizabeth, Jesus is black and speaks Zulu to a white English-speaking betrayer, and the woman caught in adultery is saved from a township necklacing. The cast of 40 weave African rhythms and majestic choral singing around familiar stories which are told with great energy and verve. Particularly noteworthy are the creation of Adam, Noah?s tale ? complete with a comic interlude whilst he tries to persuade Mrs Noah to get o­n board ? and the crucifixion. In an interesting theological statement, God the Creator and Jesus are both played by the same actor Vumile Nomanyama who is outstanding.

That the experience is readily accessible, despite being in English, Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans is testament to the ingenuity of both cast and production. This is a film record of a stage production which first appeared at Wilton?s Music Hall in London. It was filmed for the BBC by Heritage Theatre Video Productions. This video would make an ideal resource for many church groups to use during Holy Week.

This is the greatest story ever told and this version is the greatest dramatic telling you are ever likely to see.

The Mysteries is available o­n DVD (?19.99) and Video (?16.99) from good record/video shops as well as being available to order o­nline from www.heritagetheatre.com

In the time since I was ordained some 7 years ago, there has never been a Holy Week in which someone has not telephoned to enquire where o­ne might find a copy of the Exsultet ? the ancient Easter hymn of praise. Sometimes the request is more specific ? where can o­ne find a singable version of the Exsultet? o­ne at least o­ne occasion, I remember trying to teach someone to sing it down a telephone line o­n Holy Saturday itself. This was not helped by my having to admit that I had never learned more than the first couple of lines ? the rest, I make up.

However, I now have a better answer to this question. Anyone looking for the Exsultet will find it in a new hymn-book supplement for Lent, the Easter Triduum and Eastertide ? Resurrexit produced by the imaginative Decani Music. In addition to two versions of the Exsultet ? both singable and even more singable, there is much more which might satisfy anyone planning the music for this time of year. Coming with a modern Roman Catholic heritage, this book has responsorial psalms galore as well as simple chants which any congregation could learn easily. There are a couple of good simple settings of the Reproaches for Good Friday. For the Easter Vigil, there are several ?Sprinkling Songs?, to drench the congregation to, and also a special Easter version of Bernadette Farrell?s popular hymn ?Christ be our Light?.

Most of the settings in this book are covered by the Calamus copyright license, which is administered by the publishers.

The collection has been gathered specifically so as to offer pieces which have not appeared already in existing hymnbooks. All in all, it would offer many Episcopal church congregations something new and refreshing for the most important time of the year. Highly recommended.

Resurrexit ? Music for Lent, the East Triduum and Eastertide is published by Decani Music ? www.decanimusic.co.uk and costs ?11.95