The third of our activities last weekend took place on Sunday morning, and was a modern recreation of the Medieval Mystery Plays. The York cycle of plays consisted of almost 50 biblical stories, and in medieval times they were performed on the back of carts in various locations around the city. Each play was acted by a different guild.
This modern recreation involves only 7 plays, and we spent around 4 hours watching them. The location here is in front of St Williams College, which forms a rather attractive and appropriate medieval background. Each play lasts between 20 and 40 minutes, and at the end of each one the cart is packed up and moves to it's next location to be performed again, while the next cart moves into place here to be performed.
This shot shows the later part of the third play, the story of Noah and the Ark, when the 40 days and nights of rain ended and a rainbow could be seen in the sky. I can't help thinking this Ark would have been rather cramped and wouldn't have provided much shelter!
that's such fun - I came and saw the Mystery Plays performed in full in the cathedral a few years back which was huge and long. And I've seen a version of the Chester Mystery plays performed by the Isango Collective at the Sam Wanamaker theatre in Xhosa and other South African languages, which was incredible.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
Although we spent four hours watching the seven plays, it didn't feel that long at all. We hadn't expected to watch all the plays, but they were so well presented that it would have been a shame to miss any, The presentation and locations of the plays have varied over the years. In the late 1970s they were held in the ruins of St Marys Abbey on a massive temporary stage created there. Later they were held in York Minster, and most recently on wagons. I do like the wagon presentations.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
Although we spent four hours watching the seven plays, it didn't feel that long at all. We hadn't expected to watch all the plays, but they were so well presented that it would have been a shame to miss any, The presentation and locations of the plays have varied over the years. In the late 1970s they were held in the ruins of St Marys Abbey on a massive temporary stage created there. Later they were held in York Minster, and most recently on wagons. I do like the wagon presentations.
Ian
Thank you Kathy, they were an interesting and varied selection.
Ian
That is a good question Vesna. Perhaps they were below deck?
Ian