The Passion of Olesa de Montserrat, Religious theater production in Olesa de Montserrat, Spain
The Passion of Olesa de Montserrat is a large-scale theatrical production of the Passion and death of Jesus, performed annually in March and April at the theatre on Plaça de l'Oli. Its script is by Joan Povill i Adserà, used since 1949, and each performance involves up to 500 volunteer actors and extras from the town.
The earliest documented reference to this performance traces back to 1538, when it started as a civic urban spectacle. Over time, the production evolved into the religious theater event it is today.
Residents of Olesa de Montserrat perform as volunteers each year, making this production deeply woven into their community life. Families have passed the tradition down through generations, turning it into something personally meaningful for everyone involved.
Performances run on weekends in March and April at the theatre on Plaça de l'Oli, ending by 1 May at the latest. The venue also hosts concerts, amateur and professional theatre, dance festivals and school workshops outside those months, and can be rented by third parties.
The 1952 Grand Theatre of the Passion, built on the site of the former Teatre del Círcol, held 2,500 spectators. In 1956 the venue introduced a headset system at each seat offering simultaneous Spanish translation and French and English scene explanations, among the first theatres in the world to do so.
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