Opera Singer Graeme Danby to Perform at Great North Passion

Graeme Danby and a group of singers will perform at the Great North Passion, a retelling of the last hours of Jesus, to be broadcast on BBC One on Good Friday.

In the lead-up to April 18, 12 shipping containers across the region will be turned into artworks representing a Station of the Cross, then joined together in Bents Park, South Shields, to form a cross-shaped installation.

Graeme, a visiting professor of music at the University of Sunderland, is working with St Andrew’s Church in Roker as part of the BBC and Cultural Spring project.

Graeme, who will work alongside Durham composer Will Todd on a new piece of music for the event, said: “It’s hugely exciting, and also quite terrifying.

“I can assure my choristers – and anyone else who’d like to join us – that we’re going to have some fun.”

The Rev Dick Bradshaw, vicar at St Andrew’s, added: “Our church has been described as the Cathedral of the Arts because of its links to the arts and crafts movement, so we’re delighted to be involved with the Cultural Spring and the Great North Passion.”