What is it about this Jesus fellow?

Bigger Than Jesus, Rick Miller's one-man play, subtitled 2,000 Years of Selling the Big Guy!, examines why Jesus of Nazareth continues to inspire both devout worship and appalling violence.

Using the Catholic liturgy as a framework, and employing everything from a bucket of sand to toy figurines to tell his story, Miller imparts much historical and liturgical information.

It may sound frivolous, but Miller's targets - hypocrisy, zealotry, those who use faith to justify terrible acts - are neatly skewered. Director Daniel Brooks makes inventive and witty use of audio-visuals.

While religion is gently mocked , this emphatically is not an anti-Christian show. The ending, the Crucifixion, is a deeply moving - dare I say, spiritual - experience.

Until 27 Aug (0131 623 3030; assemblyfestival.com).

Bigger Than Jesus
Assembly @ St George's, Edinburgh Fringe