Guide to the 2027 Sordevolo Passion Play Schedule

The Sordevolo Passion Play is a historic, popular event held in Sordevolo, Italy. The play is performed in an open-air amphitheater and portrays Jesus Christ’s final days over 40 performances in 100 days. Select International offers tours that include tickets to the play starting June 11, 2027.

When Is the Next Sordevolo Passion Play?

This exciting event occurs only once every five years, and the next play will take place between June 19 and September 26, 2027. Its exclusivity is one of many aspects that make it an exceptional occasion, watched by more than 30,000 audience members from around the world.

In addition to experiencing a one-of-a-kind religious, historical, and cultural show in Italy, many visitors take part in outdoor activities, enjoy traditional local dishes, visit cultural landmarks and historic churches, and take in the breathtaking views of the unspoiled surrounding countryside.

Pilgrims also choose to visit the Museum of the Passion (Museo della Passione), a permanent display installed in the sacristy and choir of the Church of Santa Marta (Oratorio di Santa Marta), while in Sordevolo. 

The museum features thematic exhibition halls showcasing photographs, artifacts, and costumes that illustrate the play’s centuries-old history. The town is home to picturesque religious sites, including the Oratorio della Madonna delle Grazie and the Oratorio di San Rocco.

The History of the Sordevolo Passion Play

In 1496, the Florentine writer and chaplain Giuliano Dati compiled and reworked 14th-century Roman and Umbrian religious texts to create a poetic script. He tied his poetry to the Confraternity of the Gonfalon, which staged performances of Christ’s Passion in the Roman Colosseum in the late 15th century. Dati wrote his verses in the medieval theatrical forms used in Italy at the time. These six-line and octave rhymes or stanzas later formed the foundation of Italian drama and literature. 

Therefore, the value of Dati’s work is not only theatrical but also historical and literary. Foremost critics and scholars have recognized its spiritual and expressive greatness. These elements enable powerful, truthful human interpretations. We have yet to discover how the script journeyed from Rome to Sordevolo, a small mountain village in the Alps. It may have ended up there via traveling merchants or through connections among religious brotherhoods.

The Sordevolo Passion Play, performed by local village volunteers, is the ultimate expression of folk choral theatre. This unique event is a tradition first documented in 1816, but it likely began earlier. The Passion Play took place every five or ten years, except during the World Wars, and has been performed regularly since the end of the Second World War.

The Size of the Production

Every five years, the town’s residents convert the 2,400-seat, 4,000-square-meter amphitheater, which can accommodate approximately 3,000 spectators, into a first-century Jerusalem replica. The enactment of the Sordevolo Passion Play takes place on a massive scale. Approximately 400 local amateur actors and 300 village crew members participate in the production.

The whole town of 1,300 people is involved in one way or another, as residents manage all aspects of the show autonomously. They scenically produced a small strip of Palestine to bring the drama to life, maintaining scenery representing the Upper Room, an outdoor set piece signifying the location of the Last Supper, and the Sanhedrin, which is a grand replica of the ancient Jewish court where actors stand in for the elders and high priests who condemn Jesus.

An open-air set signifies Gethsemane, the Garden, where Judas betrays Jesus, leading to His arrest. The preserved scenery includes an open-air set that denotes the royal residence of King Herod Antipas, where characters mock and interrogate Jesus before they crucify Him. 

Pilate’s Praetorium

Yet another meticulously constructed and maintained set is Pilate’s Praetorium. The stage set represents the judgment hall in the Roman governor Pontius Pilate’s official residence, where Jesus Christ’s trial took place. The residents also created a designated outdoor stage, acting as the biblical hill of the crucifixion. Calvary is but one of the major architectural sites that are permanently cared for, alongside the Sanhedrin, Herod’s Palace, and Pilate’s Praetorium.

Sets, Props, and Costume Design

The production of the Sordevolo Passion Play involves sets, props, costume design and construction, meticulously crafted music, directing, and stage management. The show comprises main and bit players of all ages, as well as extras who play cavalrymen, Sanhedrin guards, and Roman soldiers. The work the villagers do includes sound, lighting, choreographic effects of singular beauty, all technical aspects, and even serving as stable hands who care for the animals that are part of the production. The residents organize the entire event and use local resources for everything the presentation requires.

The 2027 version offers an updated text consistent with tradition and introduces new sound effects, background music, and sets. Theatre lovers, Catholic pilgrims, and visitors from all over the world can join one of our tours and experience the innovations introduced to the 2027 Sordevolo Passion Play.

How Does Each Generation Pass the Tradition On to the Next? 

Families traditionally pass their roles, behind-the-scenes duties, and the community’s shared memories on from one generation to the next, from parent to child. They take turns performing their duties or roles as they get older. A child of five years old may play the part of the little angel, but represent a little shepherd at the age of ten. When they reach the age of 15, they may be a crowd member; at 20, a Roman soldier; and eventually, they may perform the roles of the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, or Christ, Herod, Judas Iscariot, and ultimately an elder.

How Long Is the Performance? Will English Speakers Understand It?

The performance lasts 2.5 hours and includes a 30-minute intermission. The text is in 15th-century Italian, but the visual choreography tells the story. The creative and technical directors ensure that anyone can understand what is happening on stage through visual storytelling. 

The actors use physical acting, body language, gestures, and facial expressions. Evocative stage design helps convey the story. Music and sound effects establish mood and suggest emotion. Audience members, especially those who know the Bible well, will have no problem understanding the chronicle.

Is the Sordevolo Passion Play Family-Friendly?

Yes. Sordevolo’s Passion Play includes a separate children’s version, with kids ages 5 and up performing the same text as the adult production. The event is community-wide and multigenerational, so it is designed to be family-friendly.

Multiple generations of villagers participate in the presentation. You will see toddlers up to senior citizens on the stage. The event is a visual indulgence that immerses the audience, young and old, in the experience using elaborate costumes, emotional expressiveness, live horses, sound, music, and beautiful sets. These theatrical aspects keep the entire family enchanted, whether they understand Italian or not.

Where Can You Book a 2027 Travel Package?

We offer tour departure dates and itineraries in June, July, August, and September 2027 on our site. Different trip options include Milan, Pavia, Biella, Sordevolo, Lake Maggiore, Turin, Padua, Venice, Assisi, and Rome, so choose the one you prefer. Once you’ve made your choice, book your 2027 travel package, which includes the Sordevolo Passion Play, on the Select International website.