ROCK - the Christian musical

By Mark Jones

ROCK depicts the story of apostle Simon Peter

The latest Christian musical, based on the life of apostle Simon Peter, is coming to Wiltshire.

Roger Jones is well know to many christians for his back catalogue of musicals based on stories from the bible.

ROCK is his latest production and it will be playing at Salisbury's City Hall on Sunday 11 October.

The city's Millennium Choir will be taking part too, as one of the most famous bible stories is told.

Anyone going to the City Hall to see the production will also be treated to soloists and an orchestra.

Roger Jones started his career as a school teacher but turned to writing musicals when he couldn't find anyone to write a production for his class.

That was nine years ago and he hasn't looked back.

Roger said: "my major passion is to demonstrate what happens when someone comes in to contact with God."

Starting in Caesarea at the house of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, the story unfolds in flashback.

my major passion is to demonstrate what happens when someone connects with God Composer, Roger Jones

In ROCK Peter is called away from his fishing nets and spends years on the road alongside Jesus and the disciples, experiencing triumphs and failures.

Jesus called Peter 'the Rock' but as the musical unfolds we see that only in Jesus, and filled with his Spirit, is Peter on solid ground.

Jesus then gave Simon the name 'Cephas', meaning 'rock', in Aramaic. 'Petros', a masculine form of the feminine 'petra' (rock) is the Greek equivalent of this.

It had not previously been used as a name, but in the Greek-speaking world it became a popular Christian name after the tradition of Peter's prominence in the early Christian church had been established.

ROCK, the Simon Peter story, takes place at Salisbury City Hall at 6.30pm on Sunday 11th October.

Tickets: £10 for adults and £8 for under 16's, available from the City Hall Ticket Office [phone] or via online.

Salisbury City Hall