Faith & Reflection: Voices from the Black Church and Beyond
- Queer Jesus concept challenges religious shame and reimagines sacred imagery as a site of erotic and spiritual possibility.
- Jess navigates sexual awakening amid a strict, homophobic household led by his father Jose.
- The show uses varied musical styles, from acoustic ballads to high-energy pop with a distinct Latin flavor.
- Political backdrop of Fujimori Peru highlights authoritarian sycophancy, critiqued through provocative parody songs.
- Overall tone: a sweet, smutty musical comedy advocating love without limits and rejecting religious patriarchy.
The image of Jesus has been used by some to shame and subjugate queer people across the Christian world, but Alpaqa theatre collective dare to ask: what if Jesus was queer himself? In this cheeky musical comedy, one of the winners of this years Untapped award for rising theatrical talent, we meet young Jess (Sergio Antonio Maggiolo), son of Maria and Jose, who is getting ready to make his first holy communion. Its not the only first heading his way; a sexual awakening is brewing.
Guido Garcia Lueches plays the other characters parents, priests and, most magnificently, Jesus himself. The pair bring the show to life with a musical number for each chapter, moving through acoustic ballads to high-octane pop, all with a Latin twist.
The tale unfolds in the Peru of President Fujimori, a strongman leader later charged for ordering killings and kidnappings by his military-led government, in which Jesss father is a rising star of the armed forces. The sycophancy of his supporters is explored with a sexy romp of a song: We will suck your massive dic tatorship.
At home, Jose rules with religion and homophobia, leaving little Jess fearing the feelings stirred when he sees presentations of semi-naked Jesus on the crucifix and in his citys beloved Lord of Miracles painting in a new light. The erotic overtones of religious imagery are explored in another song.
Hes been told to love Jesus, and he does so why is he made to feel like its the wrong kind of love? Whether he hides his sexuality or comes out, he considers himself condemned to suffer.
Jeezus! lightly explores the grip of religious patriarchy and the potential salvation of embracing love with no limits, in a sweet and smutty hour of uplifting musical comedy. As the pair sing at the close: If love is a mortal sin, lets burn in hell.
At Underbelly, Cowgate, Edinburgh, until 24 August
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