York Mystery Plays 2012
In 2012 York Museums Trust, York Theatre Royal and Riding Lights Theatre Company will be re-staging the York Mystery Plays in the Museum Gardens using St Mary’s Abbey as its backdrop. The plays have been part of the City’s social, artistic and theatrical history for over 800 years.
The plays have always been owned, inhabited and populated by the people of York and the project in 2012 is aimed at building upon that collective community experience. Our aim is to include 1000 members of the York community with on stage and off stage activities.
This project will offer people from the City and its surrounding areas the opportunity to work alongside the professional teams within the three organisations to deliver an epic social and theatrical experience for both participants and audiences alike.
The project will develop and nurture talent in:
- live performance including acting, music, dance and singing
- costume making techniques
- stage management
- prop, set design and build
- event management and administration
- event marketing
- event documentation through photography and film
York Mystery Plays 2012 will offer work experience and job opportunities in all areas of theatre making but, more than this, it will offer the people a chance to develop skills for the future.
How can you join in?
The York Mystery Plays is recruiting volunteers from around the region, who are interested in developing their skills, forming new friendships, and taking part in a amazing community experience. We are contacting schools, community groups, and other organisations to see how can work together.
The York Mystery Plays is also putting together education packs, based around the historical significance of the plays, the theatrical element of the plays, and the literacy aspect of the plays. It is also busy promoting and organising the legal aspects of the project which need to be in place.
Currently the York Mystery Plays 2012 is adapting the script and artistic side of the project – designing the set, costumes and thinking about how this will fit into the setting of the St Mary’s Abbey site.
The Biggest Theatrical Production for a decade…
We are hoping to produce the biggest piece of theatre that the region has seen for a decade. A bespoke auditorium holding 1,400 people will be built in the York Museum Gardens. The project will have fringe events reaching out to people who would not normally get the opportunity to get involved in projects such as this. The community element to the project is very important and we hope to leave a lasting legacy to York.
Sarah Barnard, Project Administrator York Theatre Royal Mystery Plays 2012