23/11/2011

Issued by Yorkshire Museum and Gardens

Summer 2012 will see the biggest and most elaborate outdoor theatre production ever to have taken place in York.

One thousand people, including internationally known actors, will create a new interpretation of the famous York Mystery Plays, against the evocative backdrop of the ruins of St Mary's Abbey.
The medieval cycle of York Mystery Plays has been told by the people of York for hundreds of years and is deeply embedded in the City's cultural heritage.

Throughout August it is hoped more than 28,000 people will see the plays, which will spectacularly tell the story of the eternal battle between good and evil - from creation to the last judgement.

Produced by York Theatre Royal, Riding Lights Theatre Company and York Museums Trust and supported by City of York Council, this new adaptation of the York Mystery Plays is written by the Olivier award winning Mike Kenny, who adapted York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum's The Railway Children.

Dame Judi Dench, who performed in the plays three times, is a patron of the plays for 2012.
She said: "Having performed in the York Mystery Plays three times, I know the excitement that these events bring to the people of York and the important place they hold within the city's history. When I heard the Mystery Plays were returning to Museum Gardens and the scale and ambition which York Theatre Royal, Riding Lights Theatre Company and York Museums Trust have for this production, I was honoured to be asked to become patron.

"I urge you to get involved with the York Mystery Plays 2012 and experience the magic of creating theatre with your own community. It is something I will always remember. "
The plays will take place in the Museum Gardens from August 2 to August 27 2012, with a 1400 seat bespoke undercover theatre being especially built around the ancient walls of St Mary's Abbey. More than 1,000 local people will join forces with a large professional team to help create this spectacular production. It is hoped the plays will attract even more visitors to the city, with international bookings already being confirmed.

It is the first time the plays have been performed in the Gardens since 1988 and the first large scale production since the plays were held in York Minster in 2000.
The professional actors involved in the plays and the plays included in Mike Kenny's interpretation are set to be announced in November.

Mike Kenny said: "York Mystery Cycle is an extraordinary phenomenon. Almost as old as the Minster and a precious artifact of British theatre history, but something which you don't have to be careful not to drop or scratch. It is as living as it once was. You can hear in it the Yorkshire voices which once spoke it and refashion it for a new generation to speak again. Its creators are unknown but its owners are those of us, past, present and future who live and work in the city. It's a pleasure and an honour to be entrusted with producing a new script for 2012."

Joint Artistic Directors for the 2012 production, Paul Burbridge (Riding Lights) and Damian Cruden (York Theatre Royal) said in a joint statement: "Our vision is to create a bold, exhilarating piece of story-telling theatre on an operatic scale. To re-invigorate the tradition and the language and make these plays accessible to a modern audience. We want to stage the Mystery Plays in a way that resonates with both past and present and appeals to those of religious faith or none."

York Mystery Plays 2012 is sponsored by Shepherd Building Group and The Feoffees of St Michael's, Spurriergate.

To find out more about the plays please visit: http://www.yorkmysteryplays2012.com

ENDS