York Mystery Plays

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

York Mystery Plays

Parallel form(s) of name

  • York Corpus Christi Plays

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

  • York Mystery Plays; Fourteenth century - Present

Other form(s) of name

    Identifiers for corporate bodies

    Description area

    Dates of existence

    Fourteenth century - Present

    History

    The plays were originally performed in York from the middle of the 14th century until 1569 when they would be performed and funded by local trade guilds who would each take responsibility for one play. The end of the feast of Corpus Christi in England after the Reformation meant the plays came to an end. Performances of individual elements of the Plays started again at the beginning of the 20th century but it was not until 1951 that they were fully revived by the York Festival of Arts as part of the Festival of Britain. The plays were then initially staged every three years, later being staged every four. Due to financial and practical reasons in 1992 and 1996 the Plays were held indoor at the York Theatre Royal. The modern Guilds of York, heirs to the original Mystery Plays presenters, were formally associated with an outdoor production for the first time in 1998. In 2002 they took charge of the production themselves. The Plays have toured outside ever since.

    Places

    Legal status

    Functions, occupations and activities

    A cycle of 48 dramatic plays, or pageants, held mostly outdoors every 3-4 years, covering biblical events from the Creation to The Last Judgement.

    Mandates/sources of authority

    Internal structures/genealogy

    General context

    The plays were originally performed in York from the middle of the 14th century until 1569 when they would be performed and funded by local trade guilds who would each take responsibility for one play. The end of the feast of Corpus Christi in England after the Reformation meant the plays came to an end. Performances of individual elements of the Plays started again at the beginning of the 20th century but it was not until 1951 that they were fully revived by the York Festival of Arts as part of the Festival of Britain. The plays were then initially staged every three years, later being staged every four. Due to financial and practical reasons in 1992 and 1996 the Plays were held indoor at the York Theatre Royal. The modern Guilds of York, heirs to the original Mystery Plays presenters, were formally associated with an outdoor production for the first time in 1998. In 2002 they took charge of the production themselves. The Plays have toured outside ever since.

    Relationships area

    Access points area

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Occupations

    Control area

    Authority record identifier

    GB0192-308

    Institution identifier

    GB0192

    Rules and/or conventions used

    International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Maintenance notes