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A returning play will highlight the hope of the Easter season.

Southside Baptist Church is preparing for an updated play for Easter, “Chains.” The production will be performed live at 10 a.m. during the regular worship service on April 4 at the church at 917 Carolina Road. This performance will also be available as a live stream for those who want to view it at home.

This production is an original by Ernie Chenault, who has written shows for Southside Baptist Church for past Christmas and Easter services. This play has been performed before in 2008 and 2012. This year it has been updated to be more challenging and relevant to the audience.

“‘Chains’ works on the premise that everyone has secret sin that will eventually come to light,” said Chenault. “This is shown graphically with a final resolution that only Jesus, the one who bears all of our sins, can redeem.”

A small cast will take the stage to put on this production, including Chenault as the chief protagonist, Tonya Deaton as Cara, Joshua Butts as Iago, Tiffany Butler as Venus, Stephen Butler as Chris King and Jacob Campbell as Jesus.

“The drama emphasizes redemption, regardless of the severity of the sin,” said Chenault. “The play’s content works well with the Easter season and was performed both times in the past on the Palm Sunday weekend.”

Chenault also warns that this drama is not for the faint of heart, as it includes moments of intense dialogue.

Parents are encouraged to avoid bringing small children. Childcare will be available for children in fifth grade and younger.

An American Sign Language interpreter will be on site for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The service is estimated to last a little over an hour from opening to closing remarks. Considerations have been made in light of COVID-19 procedures, and the event is free.

There are many options to view online. Visit Southside Baptist Church’s Facebook page or YouTube channel, watch the live stream at sbcsuffolk.org/sbc-live, or watch on the Southside Baptist Church app available on Roku or Apple TV. For more information, call 757-539-6629.