ORGANISERS of a religious community play in Ledbury are delighted to have found Jesus - in the church.

Organisers of the Passion Play, And Now the Good News!, had been struggling to find a suitable Messiah to star in the specially- written play.

But they have now cast Adam Dunning, a curate from Evesham.

Composer John Frith said they were looking for someone who could act, had a good singing voice and was the right age - about 25.

"It was hard to find someone who was just right, so it was a real bonus when we found Adam. But I'm a believer and I trusted that he'd come out of the woodwork," said Mr Frith.

"He's a very qualified man for the part and he managed to learn the whole of the first act in a couple of nights!"

But Mr Dunning said he was finding it very difficult to play Jesus.

"Everyone who comes to this play will have their own pre-conception of how Jesus should look and sound. I think I'll be the first person to represent him as a bald man!" he said.

"It doesn't help being a curate because, although I'm involved in that kind of 'world', this is very different from that.

"I'm finding it hard to know how I should speak and move. I haven't thought myself into the part fully but I'm working on it and trying to make the part my own," he said.

There are more than 100 people taking part in the play.

"The rehearsals are going very well and our orchestra practiced for the first time together at the weekend," said Mr Frith, who wrote the play's 24 musical numbers in just six months.

"Back in 1975, I started a similar project but it came to nothing. I was able to dip into those and, once I got going, it didn't take very long.

"There's a bit of blues, jazz, some 'Elgaresque' numbers and even a bit of Gospel in the score."

The play is being staged at St Michael and All Angels' Church between Friday, March 30 and Sunday, April 1. Tickets, priced at £5, are available from Ledbury Books and Maps from Thursday, March 1.