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Last night's performance of Jesus Christ Superstar produced by Newry Musical Society was the subject of a protest by members of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
Around forty church members travelling from throughout the north sang Psalms and distributed tracts outside Newry Town Hall, as audience members made their way to the third performance this week.
Church members were protesting about the musical which they see as blasphemous stating in their tract "The fact is that Jesus Christ Superstar is a conscious blasphemy against Christ. According to the plain statements of it's authors, it is a deliberate repudiation of the Christ of Scripture."
"As God’s people – we must pray against this blasphemous production, but not only that, we must actually put feet to our prayers!" was the call to action on the website "The Burning Bush" which announced the protest headed "For the attention of all concerned followers of Christ!".
Inside the Town Hall members of Newry Musical Society were holding a minutes silence before the performance, remembering their President Wesley Livingstone MBE who died this week, their silence only broken by the distant sound of psalm singing.
Despite the protest the show played to a full house and tonight is the last performance.
The massive production involves around 100 participants with many young actors and actresses being showcased.
