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Bishop James Jones reflects on the York Mystery Plays, with extracts from the 2018 cast.

Former bishop of Liverpool the Right Reverend James Jones reflects on the York Mystery Plays, with extracts performed in the original medieval English by the 2018 cast.

The former Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, reflects on the York Mystery Plays, with extracts performed in the original medieval English by members of the 2018 cast. 

In medieval times the York Mystery Plays served both as acts of worship and as community theatre. From as early as the 1300s waggons belonging to Guilds of local tradesmen were paraded through the streets of the city as actors performed scenes from some of the great moments in Christian history. The last of the medieval productions took place in 1569, and although they were performed occasionally between 1909 and 1994, it wasn’t until 1998 that they were re-established and performed every two years. 2018 marks 20 years since they began in their current format, again taking place on waggons throughout York. 

Forty-eight scripts – by unknown authors – make up the surviving Mystery Plays, and are based on bible passages from Creation to the Last Judgement. 

Photograph:  York Mystery Plays  Credit: Lewis Outing

Producer: Ben Collingwood.

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