Mystery Plays - YorkWalk
IN THE STEPS OF MYSTERY PLAY
* This fact sheet has been provided by YorkWalk. Established in 1990, YorkWalk offers a programme of themed walking tours of York throughout the year. This information is intended to assist journalists with information on different York themes and has been written to give a flavour of York’s themed walking tours.
A walk following in the steps of the medieval Mystery Plays, following the exact route of the pageant wagons. Also visits to churches to see what medieval man thought God, angels, saints and devils looked like and to the Halls of the medieval Guilds, which staged the Plays. For more information see the Mystery Plays factsheet * Other tours include the Historic Toilet Tour, the Graveyard, Coffin and Plague tour, the Guy Fawkes Trail and the Bloody Execution Tour…to name just a few. Tel: 01904 622303, www.yorkwalk.co.uk The Guilds Mystery – Mastery in Craft
Guilds grew up from 13th century as religious confraternities, and later turned into Trade Guilds, e.g. Guild of John the Baptist became Taylors. Four Guilds had their own Halls – Merchants, Taylors, Butchers and Haberdashers, the rest shared common halls like the present Guildhall and St. Anthony’s Hall (Borthwick). Each Guild performed a play; the number varied from 47 to 57. The themes often reflected the Guild’s trade. Shiprights – Building of the Ark Fishers and Mariners – Noah's Ark Vintners and Taverners – Wedding at Cana (Water into Wine) Bakers – Last Supper Sausemakers – Death of Judes (his intestines spilled out!) Butchers – Massacre of Innocents Goldsmiths – Three Kings Merchants – Last Judgement All Saints, North Street Its mediaeval Hammberbeam roof with Angels playing musical instruments and Stained Glass Windows is exceptional – this illustrates how the mediaeval citizens viewed the appearance of Christ, his Angels and Saints and gives a clue to costumes. There are also representations of the donors, the sort of people who financed and watched the plays. Occasion of Play Originally religious plays connected with the Feast of Corpus Christi, which was late May/early June depending on the date of Easter. This was a celebration of the Consecrated Host, and was first ordained in 1264. The Feast was first celebrated in York in 1325, and the plays seem to have grown up and been written down in the 14th century. The Corpus Christi Guild dates to 1408. The City Council controlled the plays, though they were put on by individual guilds. The council charged wealthy citizens for the privilege of having a ‘station’ by their house so the citizen could erect stands and charge people to sit in them to watch, or view the plays from an upper window. The plays became suspect after the Reformation (1527-1558) and were last performed in 1569. They were revived for the Festival of Britain in 1951, and performed in the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey every four years or so until 1988; in 1992 they were performed in the Theatre Royal for the first time. Each year has seen wagon plays in the streets, notably in 1988, 1992 and 1994 and the latest in July 2006. Performance The Pageant wagons and props were stored in sheds on Toft Green, which was an open field then used for practicing Archery. The first performance of the first play – ‘The Creation’ – was at Dawn at Holy Trinity Priory Gates, Micklegate. Each play was performed there and at each subsequent station in turn, ending with the Last Judgement at about noon at Holy Trinity Gates. The last performance of the Creation must have been at about 2pm at Pavement, and the last performance of the Last Judgement at Sunset at Pavement. The actors were all men or boys, and amateurs, though occasionally professionals took some roles. The play was in Middle English, with some songs in Latin. The Guildhall This is a 15th century Hall from 1447/8 for Guilds of St Christopher and St George, which were suppressed at Reformation. It was also used as a Common Hall for various trade guilds and by the City Council. In 1483 Richard III was entertained here on his first visit as King. It was bombed out in 1942 and rebuilt. The timbers of oak and the stained glass window showing the history of York are noteworthy. Stonegate One station mid-way, one at Minster Gates. Mulberry Hall (1434) a good example of a rich merchants house, from which you could watch the plays. Deviate via Barley Hall to see a house of c.1360, restored to late 15th century appearance. Pavement So called because it was the first paved street in York, from the early 14th century. The last performance of the plays took place here. Go and look at Merchant Adventurers’ Hall of 1357, another good example of Guildhall, and late 12th century sanctuary doorknocker of All Saints Pavement Church, which represents the Jaws of Hell swallowing up the Sinner as at Last Judgement. For any further information and your free guide to York please contact: York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@visityork.org or visit the website at www.visityork.org Press contact: Kay Hyde, PR Manager - Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org website: www.visityork.org