Spectacular theatrical event announced for York Minster
The York Minster Mystery Plays 2016
The 800 year-old gothic cathedral of York Minster will undergo a spectacular transformation in June 2016 to become a monumental auditorium for a much anticipated, month-long staging of the York Minster Mystery Plays 2016.
The Mystery Plays will return to the Minster for the first time since the acclaimed Millennium production in 2000 when over 28,000 people attended the sell-out performances which had an ensemble cast of more than 200 local amateur actors and, in keeping with the tradition of the Mystery Plays, just one professional actor. Local performers will once again be at the heart of the Minster’s production.
Commenting on the announcement the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, Dean of York Minster said:
“After a gap of 16 years it is a great pleasure and enormously exciting to confirm the staging of this second, landmark production of the Mystery Plays at York Minster.
“This will be an important event for the city, Yorkshire and the wider Northern Province and we hope that it will inspire our local community to get involved through drama, music, education and the many satellite projects and initiatives that we hope will spin-off from the production.”
Viv also announced the first member of the team that will be responsible for bringing the production to the Minster stage. Innovative and highly experienced producer Nicola Corp, will oversee the planning and logistical arrangements that will be needed to get the York Minster Mystery Plays 2016 on stage. Nicky has devised, managed and delivered high profile, complex projects for the BBC (The One Show Summer Festival; Mr Bloom & Friends’ Big Day Out) and Capital Radio amongst others in a long media production career.
Viv Faull said:
“We have secured a first class producer in Nicola Corp. Exciting negotiations are underway for the next set of key appointments including the director, scriptwriter, artistic director and musical director and these will be announced shortly.
“The Mystery Plays will become a way of life at the Minster for the next 18 months. We look forward to sharing the many stories that will emerge from the production with our communities and with the people who come from all over the world to visit this glorious cathedral.”
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