BEN HUR is a dramatic story set in biblical times told by majestic costumed actors in a Roman Amphitheatre with a spectacular full-scale chariot race and gladiator battles.

Academy Award® winning actor Russell Crowe is the Narrator of this lavish production, providing the historical context, character background and the storyline links between the 10 scenes.

The rich dialogue of the actors tells the compelling story of one man’s fight for freedom, while a powerful musical soundtrack and stunning light show makes this show a major event extravaganza.

Direct from Europe, the stadium-scaled show will be the biggest theatrical event ever seen in Australia! This world tour premiere of BEN HUR in Sydney brings to life the legend made famous by the Academy Award® winning Hollywood movie ‘Ben Hur’, starring Charlton Heston.

Crafted by renowned French director Robert Hossein, BEN HUR was watched by over 300,000 people in its Paris debut. This major event theatrical presentation features a cast of hundreds, a full-scale chariot race with 24 horses, a giant Roman galleon and audience participation for young and old alike.

The monumental $15 million stadium adaptation combines the scale of the Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony with the drama of the slave who dared defy the Roman Empire.  {source}





I didn’t have any interest to watch Ben Hur but the Husband wanted to experience a once in a lifetime stadium spectacular so I bought us tickets as my birthday gift to him in September.  

For a theatre enthusiast like me, I’m glad we watched this play because it was really an awesome experience.  My Husband and I brought a few of our gears with us to take photos of the play.  Here’s a few photos we’d like to share with you.
 

“Roman musicians” welcomed us infront of ANZ Stadium.

I looked like a tiny schoolgirl with these Roman soldiers.  Since this was an outdoor event, The Husband and I decided to be in our most casual clothes.  When we left home, we felt like we were going camping with our backpacks in tow.

ANZ gave out these seat covers made of foam to everyone watching the show.  Such a very useful giveaway.  We can use these when we go to beaches and picnics.

Where we sat.  Not a bad view.  I hated the big statues though.  It got in the way, an eyesore to our photographs.

The Roman Army paying homage to the Emperor of Tiberius.  Numbers to remember:  15,000 sqm performance area; 200 actors; 24 horses for the full scale chariot race.  One word to describe Ben Hur’s production: Enormous.

The scene in the Aegean Sea where Ben Hur fought with the Romans and saved Quintus Arius, commander of the Emperor’s boat, twice.

The Gladiator’s combat to celebrate Quintus’ return to Rome.

This was one of the best parts of the play as the audience were asked to participate by cheering for the either the Yellow Gladiators or the Red Gladiators.  When we entered the ANZ Stadium, we were given white handkerchiefs to cheer for the Gladiators in Yellow tunic.

The last two men standing.

Our Yellow Gladiator won!

Christ preaches to his disciples.  Jesus played a big role in the life of Ben Hur.

Ben Hur at the camp of Sheik Ilderim who offered Ben Hur to defend his colours at the next chariot race.

The Chariot Race, another exciting part of the play.

Messala, Ben Hur’s rival, broke his axle and fell to the ground, resulting to him losing the race.  Ben Hur won!

The last scene.  Ben Hur in Jerusalem at the valley of the lepers where he found his mother and sister.  As soon as he found them, Jesus appeared carrying his cross and fell to the ground.  Ben Hur helped him and gave him water to drink.  The lepers gathered around Jesus, then suddenly thunder and lightning struck and the lepers were healed. 

Ben Hur only ran for two days at the ANZ Stadium on 22-23 October 2010.  To see our photographs in bigger resolution, just click on any of the photos and it will link you to my flickr account.