Watch
the 2013 video trailer…
Hear
our Podcasts...
Abraham and Isaac
Lazarus
Mary Magdalene
thanks to Monty Funk Productions
More Podcasts below...
The 2013 Production in Full Swing...
All the amazing hard work finally comes together into a fantastic show - click to see the slideshow!
Almost ready...
Drawings by Dai Owen
The younger cast prepare
Filmed on a cold Sunday at the end of March, this short film (edited at The Bishops’ High School), shares the experiences of three young cast members of the Chester Mystery Plays, as they reflect during the early stages of their rehearsals at St Mary’s Centre.
Jesus meets Lucius!
A snowy March morning at St John the Evangelist Church in Alvanley for Palm Sunday, 2013. Well done to all who braved the weather (particularly Lucius the donkey)
Footage courtesy of Dave Carter
Footage courtesy of Dave Carter
Rehearsals - February 2013
As the plays get closer the production team is very busy on all fronts, and these shots from the recent rehearsals show some of the fun and hard work going on behind the scenes...
A Glimpse of the 2013 Set, inside Chester Cathedral!
Judith Croft's stunning design for Chester Mystery Plays 2013 was unveiled at the public script reading in October. Get a sense of what it will look like for real from these pictures of the set model taken within the magnificent setting of the Cathedral's nave, and hear people's impressions of the set and the script, as recorded at the reading.
Public Launch of Chester Mystery Plays 2013
Over 200 people attended the formal launch of the 2013 Cycle of the Chester Mystery Plays on 8 March 2012 in the Refectory at Chester Cathedral – it was standing room only!
The evening was hosted by Chairman of the Mystery Plays, Jo Sykes. She introduced a range of speakers including the Lord Mayor, Cllr Eleanor Johnson, and the Dean of Chester, The Very Revd Gordon McPhate. The Lord Mayor talked of the importance of the Plays to Chester and its community, while the Dean commented that "performance is the primary means of unraveling the mystery of the plays".
First Workshops for 2013!
In November, the Chester Mystery Plays 2013 Artistic Director, Peter Leslie Wild, and Writer, Stephanie Dale, held workshops for those interested in getting involved with the 2013 Cycle
“We had an amazing time at the workshops”, Peter Wild comments. “So much so we’ve decided to do it all again! We’ll be running one more session before Stephanie starts the writing process in earnest and would love to meet more people – those who have been involved in (or seen) the Mystery Plays before as well as those who have never experienced them.”
...with thanks to Neil Kendall for the great photography
and Dai Owen for the wonderful illustrations
Vox Pops...
Les Ellison moved to the Chester area recently and came along to one of the November workshops.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m really excited by the 2013 project”, he commented. “Peter and Stephanie are absolutely the right director and writer for the job. They’re excellent with the people they work with – patient, respectful, encouraging, imaginative and inclusive. I think their approach to the plays is spot-on for 21st century Chester. They've really got something the audience will relate to, understand and find instantly accessible.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m really excited by the 2013 project”, he commented. “Peter and Stephanie are absolutely the right director and writer for the job. They’re excellent with the people they work with – patient, respectful, encouraging, imaginative and inclusive. I think their approach to the plays is spot-on for 21st century Chester. They've really got something the audience will relate to, understand and find instantly accessible.”
Vanda Hargen (a regular performer with the Mystery Plays) also comments:
“The 3 hour workshop just flew by. It was fun as well as stimulating, and it was really excellent to be working with Peter and Stephanie – I’ll definitely be signing up for 2013!”
“The 3 hour workshop just flew by. It was fun as well as stimulating, and it was really excellent to be working with Peter and Stephanie – I’ll definitely be signing up for 2013!”