A new play at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival aims to tell the story of Jesus to believers and non-believers.

Jason Daase isn't new to acting. A few years ago, he dressed up in a full Jesus costume and hit the street to perform the Sermon on the Mount, which he had memorized.

Now, he has taken that street performance and turned it into a full Fringe show, titled 'The Red Letters'.

"[The idea for the show] is that this would be reflections from the cross," Daase said about the new show. "He has flashbacks . . . and I act our a vignette from his life."

Daase explores Jesus' life before the cross, like the temptation in the desert and the last supper, as well as after the cross, like the resurrection and Revelations.

This will be the first time he has performed this play, with the first showing coming tonight.

"My whole purpose for doing this play was to share Christ," Daase said. "I want to ignite in Christians hearts a passion for Jesus and what he did."

He is hoping that Christians will take this opportunity to invite their friends who are not believers.

"That right there is my hearts desire," Daase said. "That Christians will say 'this is what I want to take my non-Christian friends to so they can fall in love with Jesus.'"

The show is labelled for general audiences, as there is no blood or language (other than the language of the Bible, Daase pointed out). Very young children may have a tough time with the cross scenes, as he is portrayed to be hanging from it.

You can catch The Red Letters at Venue #9-Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall (UofW) on:

  • July 19 @ 6:30 p.m.
  • July 21 @ 1:45 p.m.
  • July 22 @ 5:30 p.m.
  • July 24 @ 12:00 p.m.
  • July 25 @ 5:45 p.m.
  • July 26 @ 10:45 p.m.
  • July 28 @ 1:45 p.m.
  • July 29 @ 6:45 p.m.