AN ADAPTATION of the last days of Jesus's life performed in Poole is set to be broadcast on national television.

The Poole Passion, which tells the Bible story of Jesus Christ's sentencing, final walk and crucifixion, will be screened on BBC1's Songs of Praise on Easter Sunday.

Running until Saturday the play has developed a good reputation since its humble beginnings in 2009, organisers said.

Opening night on Wednesday saw the 60 strong cast of all ages come together starting from Parkstone United Reformed Church. They then led a torchlit procession to the Green at Ashley Cross before the Son et Lumiere and final resolution at St Peter's Church, stopping traffic in their path.

Writer and director Sharon Muiruri Coyne said: "It's very exciting. It's the culmination of a very long journey, with well over 50 people in the cast and a completely diverse group.

"It's a totally mixed bag of people all coming together who wouldn't normally meet in the pursuit of creating a play.

"It's becoming a tradition," she added. "We will be out on Easter Sunday on Songs of Praise and I'm hoping this is the beginning of a small cultural industry and will help put Poole on the map."

Producer Jan Miller said the piece has been months in the planning.

"We did it in 2009 and it was intended just to be a one-off but people said it was so amazing why don't we do it again. Then we did it in 2010 and have decided to do it every two years since. It's too big to do it every year," she said.

"It tells the story of the Passion but our particular slant on it is through the eyes of a child - the title - and there is a child in the performance asking 'why did Judas do that?'. They ask things and challenge things in a way that isn't just about telling the story."

As well as providing a basis for lovers of am-dram looking for a religious experience, the play also helps people battling addiction. Some of those taking part, both in front of and behind the curtain, are recovering substance abusers - some of whom made the 11.5ft cross that Jesus dragged across the Green.

"It doesn't matter where we are from, our background - they could be millionaires or living on the street - we're all one family," Mrs Miller added.