A HUNT has been launched for a Judas to take part in a large-scale contemporary Passion Play on Easter Saturday in the Scottish capital - no previous experience necessary.

The creators of the open-air production to be staged in Princes Street Gardens and called The Edinburgh Passion have filled the main roles with mostly volunteers but a few spaces are left, including the role of the disciple who betrayed Jesus for money.

The new script by award-winning playwright Rob Drummond is a retelling of the story of the last days of Christ, who is played by actor Duncan Rennie.

Director Suzanne Lofthus is looking for budding actors interested in exploring their dark side, including a man to play Jude (Judas), and "two street-wise guys to play criminals".

She said: "The story of Jesus is a story for all times, as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago. We wanted to ask the question: if Jesus was around today, what would that look like? About 20 years from now in a post-Referendum Scotland, what would Jesus say and do?"