John Young, the director of the Britain’s largest community theatre project in regular production, is on the hunt for hundreds of players and creatives to tell Biblical stories on stage at Chester Cathedral.
As director for the 2023 run of the Chester Mystery Plays, Young requires not only actors but musicians, dancers, singers, prop makers and costume creators. Once his team is assembled, the critically acclaimed director will create the latest edition of this world-famous theatrical event.
The religious plays were first written and presented in the medieval era and feature key Bible stories including The Crucifixion, The Nativity, The Creation and Noah’s Ark. The Chester Mystery Plays are performed by a community crew and cast one every five years in the city.
Young comes to the theatre project following his successful production at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which enjoyed five-star reviews. Asked about the mystery plays, the director commented:
“These plays are about love, betrayal, death, and redemption – everything you need for great theatre.”
Young added that he is seeking players of all abilities and ages, and those enjoy moving, singing and playing instruments, for the telling of 21st-Century take on the plays.
The Chester Mystery Plays will be on stage at Chester Cathedral in 2023 from June 28 to July 15 with tickets on sale from October 7 this year. This is immediately following a launch celebration on October 6 at 7 pm in the Nave of Chester Cathedral, which is open to all.
