Uploaded September 2012 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the rock opera "A Man Dies" (1964).
CREDITS: Valerie Mountain, Ricky Forde, The Strangers
with the Boys and Girls of St. James' Church, Lockleaze, Bristol
Written and Composed by ERNEST MARVIN, EWAN HOOPER, VALERIE MOUNTAIN, DAVID MALLETT, RICHARD SMITH, MICHAEL G. WILLIAM
Text on the back cover: "'A Man Dies' was originally written for the teenagers of St. James' Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze. Bristol. It is an attempt to present the Bible story in the modern idiom—in the music and dancing which teenagers love so much and can do so well.
It is written by Ewan Hooper (formerly an actor at the Bristol Old Vic. now Director of the Greenwich Theatre Project), and Ernest Marvin, one of the Ministers at St. James'. They have tried to demonstrate that the Gospel is relevant to the present moment and must be expressed and dramatised in meaningful worship. Sunday night at St. James' begins at 6-30 with a forty-five minute service in the church. This is followed by general chaos in the halls when refreshments are served to adults as well as young people, and the usual youth club activities take place. Over the years many youngsters have come to enjoy this total evening of fellowship, worship and recreation: But it has always been apparent that for quite a number the worship is a 'bore', and does not mean very much. The Gospel and the Liturgy of the Church is not readily understood—a sad fact when you remember that Gospel simply means 'good news', and Liturgy 'the work of the people'. It was out of this situation that 'A Man Dies' was born. This drama follows the Medieval Mystery Plays in attempting to combine satire, humour and social comment with the Gospel story. And like those plays it is performed in the dress and language of the day (someone once asked the writers if they were saving up for costumes to do it properly !). The Mystery Plays were performed before an audience who were unable to read the Bible; 'A Man Dies' is for and about people who are able to read it, but see no reason why they should. This dramatisation was first presented in St. James' Church Hall at Easter, 1 960. On that occasion and ever since it has always attracted much unsought for and unexpected national and international publicity. In 1961 it was presented in the Colston Hall, Bristol, and an extract from it lasting three-quarters of an hour was televised by ABC Television. An attempt was made in the House of Commons and elsewhere to have this broadcast of 'A Man Dies' banned on the grounds of bad taste. The Nativity section was first written for television and produced on Sunday Break by ABC at Christmas 1961, under the title 'Man in Time'. This was presented together with the earlier part, in the Colston Hall at Easter. 1962.
The new 1964 production has just been seen in the Colston Hall, and for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall, London. At the Albert Hall it was filmed in its entirety by ABC Television, and is being shown throughout the British Isles in a series of four programmes.
In the songs and action an attempt has been made at topicality and modern parallels are frequently drawn with biblical situations. For instance in the first song How Long, Lordie?. the misery of the Jews in Egypt is compared to the burden borne by those suffering from racial discrimination today."
EWAN HOOPER and ERNEST MARVIN
Read here an interview with one of the writers:
crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/A_Man_Dies_The_60s_Christian_rock_opera_that_predated_Jesus_Christ_Superstar/43161/p1
From the rock opera "A Man Dies" (1964).
CREDITS: Valerie Mountain, Ricky Forde, The Strangers
with the Boys and Girls of St. James' Church, Lockleaze, Bristol
Written and Composed by ERNEST MARVIN, EWAN HOOPER, VALERIE MOUNTAIN, DAVID MALLETT, RICHARD SMITH, MICHAEL G. WILLIAM
Text on the back cover: "'A Man Dies' was originally written for the teenagers of St. James' Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze. Bristol. It is an attempt to present the Bible story in the modern idiom—in the music and dancing which teenagers love so much and can do so well.
It is written by Ewan Hooper (formerly an actor at the Bristol Old Vic. now Director of the Greenwich Theatre Project), and Ernest Marvin, one of the Ministers at St. James'. They have tried to demonstrate that the Gospel is relevant to the present moment and must be expressed and dramatised in meaningful worship. Sunday night at St. James' begins at 6-30 with a forty-five minute service in the church. This is followed by general chaos in the halls when refreshments are served to adults as well as young people, and the usual youth club activities take place. Over the years many youngsters have come to enjoy this total evening of fellowship, worship and recreation: But it has always been apparent that for quite a number the worship is a 'bore', and does not mean very much. The Gospel and the Liturgy of the Church is not readily understood—a sad fact when you remember that Gospel simply means 'good news', and Liturgy 'the work of the people'. It was out of this situation that 'A Man Dies' was born. This drama follows the Medieval Mystery Plays in attempting to combine satire, humour and social comment with the Gospel story. And like those plays it is performed in the dress and language of the day (someone once asked the writers if they were saving up for costumes to do it properly !). The Mystery Plays were performed before an audience who were unable to read the Bible; 'A Man Dies' is for and about people who are able to read it, but see no reason why they should. This dramatisation was first presented in St. James' Church Hall at Easter, 1 960. On that occasion and ever since it has always attracted much unsought for and unexpected national and international publicity. In 1961 it was presented in the Colston Hall, Bristol, and an extract from it lasting three-quarters of an hour was televised by ABC Television. An attempt was made in the House of Commons and elsewhere to have this broadcast of 'A Man Dies' banned on the grounds of bad taste. The Nativity section was first written for television and produced on Sunday Break by ABC at Christmas 1961, under the title 'Man in Time'. This was presented together with the earlier part, in the Colston Hall at Easter. 1962.
The new 1964 production has just been seen in the Colston Hall, and for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall, London. At the Albert Hall it was filmed in its entirety by ABC Television, and is being shown throughout the British Isles in a series of four programmes.
In the songs and action an attempt has been made at topicality and modern parallels are frequently drawn with biblical situations. For instance in the first song How Long, Lordie?. the misery of the Jews in Egypt is compared to the burden borne by those suffering from racial discrimination today."
EWAN HOOPER and ERNEST MARVIN
Read here an interview with one of the writers:
crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/A_Man_Dies_The_60s_Christian_rock_opera_that_predated_Jesus_Christ_Superstar/43161/p1
