Mystery Plays

The Plays

The next Mystery Plays are scheduled for Summer 2013

The 2008 performances were directed by Robin Goddard, a true Cestrian born within the city walls who has previously performed in the cycle. He describes the production as `epic.'

Of the few surviving cycles of English mystery plays, Chester's original texts are the most complete in existence today. From Creation to the Last Judgement, this famous series of dramatic stories drawn from the Bible, including the life of Christ from birth to crucifixion and resurrection, has never ceased to move, astound and delight audiences throughout the centuries.

Truly the greatest story ever told, this classic narrative was first enacted by medieval craftsmen and guildsmen in the 14th century. In modern times the plays were revived in 1951 and have since been performed every five years.

A spectacular festival presented by an amateur cast and crew of hundreds drawn from the local community under professional direction, Chester Mystery Plays remain a treasured part of Chester's 2000-year-old cultural heritage and a highlight of the arts events calendar attracting people from all over the world.

Chester Mystery Plays is traditionally a community event staged by amateurs under professional direction. Hundreds of enthusiasts of all ages from throughout the region make up the cast and crew.

Performed only every five years, the 2003 plays  took place on Chester Cathedral Green, an enchanting setting in the heart of the ancient walled city.

In the shadow of the historic cathedral whose own story can be traced back to the year 907AD the 2003 Chester Mystery Plays will be staged in the open air while the audience is seated in covered grandstands.

Mystery Plays- History

The Chester Cycle of Mystery Plays is the most famous of the public festivities which brightened the lives of citizens in the Middle Ages. In addition to the Plays, there were the Christmas and Midsummer Watches, the Sheriffs' Breakfast and the St George's Day race.

The origins of many of these events are uncertain, but by the Tudor period they were accepted as traditional and customary.  By the last quarter of the 16th century there was increasing opposition to the events on religious grounds and sometimes for public order concerns.

The earliest reference to a Chester play performed by the guilds occurs in a document of 1422.  The document is a judgement in a case in which both the Ironmongers' and Carpenters' companies had sought assistance in putting on the Corpus Christi play.

Different companies were each responsible for an individual playlet which combined to form a collection of biblical stories. The plays were originally performed at Corpus Christi, a feast which fell in late May or June, but varied with the date of Easter.

There is no reference to a Corpus Christi play after 1472 and by the early 16th century it had been replaced by a Whitsun play.  Modern experts believe that a Corpus Christi procession and play performed by the clergy may have continued until 1548, when the feast was abolished by the English Church.

The first reference to the Whitsun plays occurs in 1521. The plays had a role both in religious celebration and education and also civic prosperity. The Corpus Christi play may have been an annual event, but the Whitsun plays seem to have been mounted less frequently.  The last performance was in 1577.

Play cycles were unusual; there is evidence for such cycles in only York and Chester, although anthologies and fragmentary remains can be linked with other towns. In the centuries that followed the last performance historians and antiquarians retained an academic interest in the plays. Productions of some of the plays took place in both London and Chester at the beginning of the twentieth century, but it was not until 1951 that the plays were revived as a full cycle. Performances have been held subsequently at roughly 5 year intervals and are now an established event in the cultural and tourism calendar.

More recent times have seen the formation of Chester Mystery Plays Ltd, a company with charitable status committed to producing the plays every five years. The board, which traditionally includes the Lord Mayor of Chester and the Dean of Chester, is chaired by John Ross. Patron of Chester Mystery Plays is the Lord Lieutenant for Cheshire, W A Bromley Davenport.

Artistic Director 2008 - Robin Goddard

Robin Goddard began his career in theatre while still studying drama, dance and English at Exeter University. During his time there he worked at the Northcott Theatre, for regional television and with Western Theatre Ballet.

His passion for mystery plays began when 'as an awe-inspired sixth-former I watched Chester's 1967 production', and continued when as a teacher in Cheshire he inspired students with the subject as part of the syllabus and directed them in performances of the plays.

Teaching full-time, Robin also directed productions at summer residential drama courses at the Menai Centre, Anglesey 1975-86, and was director of Cheshire Youth Theatre 1981-87 and 1992-93. He went freelance in 1996 as a director, tutor and consultant in theatre arts.

Current projects include involvement as director/Head of Musical Theatre at Merseyside Dance & Drama Centre, Liverpool; co-ordinator for Flintshire's FLAIR production at Hawarden Castle; artistic director at The Mulberry Theatre, Chester; director for Chester Musicals and Chester Operatic Society; and work on an Artists in Schools project for Denbighshire County Council.

A veteran of Chester Mystery Plays, he has acted in them as Lucifer (1977), Christ (1982) and Noah (1997), and directed plays from the cycle for Cheshire Youth Theatre.

Highly regarded throughout the region as an actor, scriptwriter, director and teacher, Robin's vision for Chester 2003 is an exciting one. 'I am a great believer in the use of spectacle and modern technology,' he said, 'and plan to mount the plays in an epic style against a background of traditional Chester architecture - Roman, Saxon, Norman and Medieval.

My aim is to please the eye, ear and mind of the audience while staying true to the inspiration behind the plays and reinforcing their integral links to Chester's religious, cultural and historic legacy. It is not an intellectual exercise but a theatrical experience that I want the audience to enjoy.'

Mystery Play Study Packs include background notes on the origins and revival of the Mystery Plays and on the manuscripts, information about available documentary sources including those held in Chester's archives, a paper by Professor A D Mills on the Chester Coopers' Company Manuscript, Play XVI, 'The Trial and Flagellation of Christ' and reproductions of a selection of documents including play texts with transcripts. The cost is £5 plus £1 package and postage in the UK.