MR SHEEN SHINES
IN PORT TALBOT PASSION PLAY

For three days Port Talbot was enthral to "The Passion" as thousands came together to listen to The Strangers' stories about The School Teacher, and to watch the many acts and performances, speeches and processions that took place on Aberafan beach and throughout the streets of Port Talbot. The Port Talbot Passion Play began on Good Friday at 5.45 am on Aberavon beach; where Port Talbot Camera Club members Gareth Martin, Pugwash, Karen Davies, Darren Boxer and Susan Plant witnessed Michael Sheen, aka the Teacher, emerge from the dunes in a hoodie. Then he stripped to the waist at the water's edge, and walked into the sea where John the Baptist represented by the Stranger had been waiting in the freezing water for twenty minutes.

The Teacher aka Martin Sheen at the waters edge. The shot Gareth Martin walked into the water fully clothed and got wet for.

Gareth Martin recalls that whilst walking in a procession along the pier on Friday afternoon, the Teacher turned to him and said, “You must have enough pictures now”. He answered, “You can never have enough pictures”. The Teacher questioned him about his photography and Port Talbot Camera Club, and was told about our impending International. "It was an unbelievable experience to have spoken with him," said Gareth. Then on Saturday afternoon in Llewellyn Street whilst watching the ghost's recital, Gareth happened to meet with the Teacher again, he stopped, turned and said, “Hi Gareth, how’re you doing.” So I had been blessed twice.

The teacher carrying the cross, heading towards Aberafan beach in sombre procession, during one of the final acts of The Port Talbot Passion Play.

The final act on the beach front on Sunday was a triumph, from the crowd pleasing remembrance recital delivered from the cross, to the resurrection, where, dressed in the Stranger’s clothes, The Teacher walked down the ramp and on to the beach with his followers in tow. The whole event was a great success and as we walked home along the seafront, everyone was talking about the amazing feeling Michael Sheen and The Passion had brought to Port Talbot.

EVENTS DIARY 2012

Members discussion evening. Hand-in for Competition No.2.

NEWS ARCHIVE