In a powerful and moving response to the Passion story and to Bach’s portrayal of it in his St Matthew Passion, Streetwise Opera staged an abridged version of the work in Manchester this Easter.

The cast brought together people who have experienced homelessness with members of The Sixteen and its music director Harry Christophers. Sir James MacMillan composed a new ‘Resurrection’ finale to the piece, with lyrics written by Streetwise Opera performers.

You can watch the full performance below.

The performance, staged in Manchester’s Victorian Campfield Market on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and directed by filmmaker Penny Woolcock, was produced in association with Manchester’s new contemporary arts centre HOME and local homeless centre, the Booth Centre.

Streetwise Opera - recipients of a Gramophone Award in 2009 - is a charity which uses music to help people who have experienced homelessness make positive changes in their lives. Find out more here: Streetwise Opera.