Chester Mystery Plays

Chester Mystery Plays exists to produce and promote the Chester Cycle of Mystery Plays ensuring their continued production and relevance to today’s audience.  The Plays are produced by theatre professionals working with hundreds of volunteers from local communities.

Chester’s original 24 Mystery Play texts form the most complete Cycle in existence; the Plays were originally created to tell Bible stories to the masses who couldn’t read.  Assembled in the early foutrteenth century by the monastic scholars of the Abbey of St Werburgh (now Chester Cathedral), they were produced regularly by local Guilds until the late sixteenth century.  They were then revived in the 1950s and have been produced (at least) every five years since.

Modern productions have sought to find new ways of interpreting the Plays. New music, dance and special effects are integral, and Street Theatre promotes and complements the main production.  Many diverse local communities and professional artists are brought together in a theatrical celebration that both represents our heritage and looks to our future. 

Visit the Chester Mystery Plays website

Jane Dawson (Production Committee)
Julia Edwards (Marketing Manager)

To contact Chester Mystery Plays visit their website contact page

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