One of the interesting features of these Mystery Plays was the variety of the groups involved in presenting them. Traditionally in medieval times each play was presented by a different guild. Today the range is rather wider, from a school group presenting Adam and Eve, to St Luke's Church presenting Herod and the Three Kings. There was also this group from Riding Lights Acting Up Youth Theatre.
This group presented a rather modern interpretation of the Crucifiction, with the Roman soldiers dressed in bright orange Community Payback tops. All those in this group have additional needs or disabilities. This didn't prevent them from presenting a polished performance and their commitment and pleasure in what they were doing was obvious, and it was an absorbing play.
Here one of the Roman soldiers thrusts his spear into the side of Jesus, just in case nailing him to a cross wasn't enough to kill him.
That spear thrust is in the Biblical account, trying to check to see if he was properly dead so they could get off for the day. Nice to see a modern interpretation of the different groups.
We have to learn to move with the times. The last Aida I saw had men in orange boiler suits and hard hats. They completed a giant reflector (with a crane) during the Grand Victory March.
Did you ever see the new passion singing play of the Dutch television?
Thank you all for your lovely comments, they are very much appreciated.
The Mystery Plays were an absorbing event. and it was fascinating to see how the interpretations in these plays compared with earlier versions.
Ian
It is always fascinating to see how the familiar can be reinterpreted.
Ian