Sydney's Own Ben Hur Tells His Story, BEN HURR Plays ANZ Stadium, 10/22 & 10/23

Direct from Europe, the stadium spectacular of BEN HUR, will perform exclusively in Sydney at ANZ Stadium for two nights only on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October.

And Sydney has their own Ben Hur...Ben-Hur Yohana. And when your name is Ben Hur, chances are you have a big story to tell.

The Bosley Park resident was born in Iran in 1960 - a time when the world was in the grip of Ben Hur fever following the 1959 release of the now-iconic film. Inspired by the 11-time Academy Award-winning blockbuster, as well as the fact her doctor's name was also Ben, Mrs Yohana gave her son the name of a legend.

"In my early years, I wanted to change my name because I didn't like the fuss and reaction when people found out," said Ben. "But around the age of 16, it dawned on me that it was something special and actually something to be proud of. It's certainly a name that people never forget."

Ben has retold the tale of his eyebrow-raising name countless times in his 50 years but that's just the start of his unique story.

Ben and his older brother Julius Caesar - yes, really - are of Assyrian descent and speak a modern derivation of the ancient Aramaic language. Spoken by Jesus Christ, Aramaic was used by disciples and apostles to preach the Gospel, to record the Scriptures, and in Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of Christ.

Furthermore, the Bible originated in this language and the New Testament has been preserved in this dialect since the Apostolic Age.

Like his mother, Ben is a huge fan of the Ben Hur movie. He has seen it 16 times and his family watch it together every Easter when it is traditionally broadcast on television. Ben said he was thrilled to find out the spectacular story will be coming to ANZ Stadium in October.

"I'd heard rumours that a stadium version of the story was coming to Sydney, but when I heard the producer Andrew Guild being interviewed on Alan Jones' radio program, I had to pull over," he said.

"The Ben Hur story has everything - an important and touching story and heaps of action. I can't wait to see it with my wife and daughters in October."

This monumental $15 million stadium adaptation has been crafted by renowned French director Robert Hossein and produced by STADEFRANCE Live Events. The performance features a live chariot race with 32 horses, a giant Roman Galleon, a parade of Roman legionnaires and a 15,000 square metre specially constructed arena that will transform ANZ Stadium into the biggest Roman Amphitheatre ever seen.

Australian audiences can register their interest at the official tour website. Those registered will receive BEN HUR - The Stadium Spectacular tour news and a priority period to purchase tickets before public sales.

To find out more about the BEN HUR Stadium Spectacular visit: www.benhur.com.au.

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