Recreating the past?

Dr Christopher Daniell, Past Forward Ltd

The York Mystery Play cycle remains a community event: acted and watched by the community, whilst at the same time welcoming others into the city.

Each generation re-interprets the texts and their staging. Some directors attempt to perform them with as much authenticity as possible, whilst others give them a more modern feel. However, the plays themselves are rooted in medieval life and thought, and this aspect is always recognisable. But even if members of the audience do not understand medieval nuances of the text, the productions offer a powerful spectacle from the delightful animals going into Noah's Ark, to the power of Christ on the Cross.

But to say that the plays are popular because they are visually spectacular is to miss the point. What draws each generation to the plays are their universal themes. Good and Evil are powerfully represented and the plays span the whole of time, from the Creation to the Day of Judgement. The plays are not dry theological tracts, because they focus on the very human emotions of the people involved. The humour of the soldiers preparing the Cross is contrasted by the grief of those watching Christ's crucifixion.

The combination of the human and the divine revelations makes the plays a powerful experience for all.

Back to further information on the Plays