Hull: Mystery Plays at Holy Trinity

Two powerful Passion pageants from the York Medieval Mystery cycle of plays are to be staged in Hull’s beautiful Holy Trinity Church from 13-16 March. In The Conspiracy, Judas Iscariot offers to betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver; and in Christ before Annas and Caiaphas, Jesus is hauled in front of the Chief Priests, subjected to brutal questioning, mocked and tortured. The plays are being performed by students from the Department of Music and Drama at the University of Hull.

The production’s director, Dr Philip Crispin, says: "Both plays appear to have been authored by the same playwright, the celebrated, anonymous 'York Realist'. They are remarkable for their arresting, muscular language and dramatic potency."

Both plays are set at night, in an atmosphere of tension and confusion, and feature corrupt and worldly authorities, scapegoating and ritual abuse: a self-possessed Jesus is denounced as a fool and warlock before being subjected to a vicious form of blind man’s buff. Pontius Pilate appears as an arrogant occupying overlord, the chief priests as politicking prelates, and a wretched St Peter denies Christ three times.

"The actors are relishing the challenge of getting to grips with the vivid and sinewy Middle English and I’m delighted we’ve been invited back to Holy Trinity," said Dr Crispin, who directed the Morality Play Everyman in the church last year.

The Rev Canon Dr Neal Barnes, Vicar of Holy Trinity, said: "Vast and beautiful Holy Trinity, a glory of the Middle Ages, offers a very appropriate setting for The Mysteries. It demonstrates our commitment to offer this wonderful building as a platform for the widest range of community arts and, in so doing, enrich the cultural offering of our city centre."

On Friday 15 March, Carl Heap, the celebrated director and founder of the legendary Medieval Players, will join Dr Crispin for a post-performance discussion.

The Mysteries are on at Holy Trinity from 13-16 March at 7.30pm. Doors will open 10 minutes before the performance.

Admission to The Mysteries is free but patrons are warmly invited to donate generously to the considerable running costs of Holy Trinity.

For further details and to make a reservation, please contact: mysteries.hull@gmail.com or 01482 466141