The Lord Mayor of Chester has officially granted permission to the company of the Chester Mystery Plays to perform at Chester Cathedral this summer.
The traditional Reading of the Banns ceremony took place at Chester Town Hall Square on Saturday 12th May in front of crowds of locals, shoppers, visitors and tourists.
Shepherds and singers from the 200-strong company processed from the historic Eastgate to the Town Hall where town crier David Mitchell beseeched Lord Mayor of Chester Cllr Razia Daniels to permit the quinquennial plays to be staged.
Reading from a specially written script by award-winning playwright Deborah McAndrew, who has penned the full length version of the 2018 Chester Mystery Plays, Mr Mitchell began his proclamation with the words: “Worshipful Mayor of this fair city, We come today respectfully, Both men and women solemnly, With Chester’s children all, To bow to your authority, And seek permission publicly, To play our plays full heartily, Within the city wall.”
Fro the steps of the Two Hall, the Lord Mayor responded: “These plays are part of the rich heritage of this historic city. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that I grant permission for the plays to be performed in the nave of the cathedral from Wednesday 27th June to Saturday 14th July 2018. Best of luck to all!”
This, of course, was greeted with much applause from the assembled cast below!
Chairman of the Chester Mystery Plays company, Jo Sykes exaplined: “In the 15th century, when the Reading of the Banns ceremony was first recorded, it would have been the ‘social media’ of its time, letting the people of the city know that the Chester Mystery Plays were being performed.”
Jo added: “I would like to thank the Lord Mayor, the town crier and the dedicated performers from our company for keeping this tradition and the Chester Mystery Plays alive in the 21st century.”
The Chester Mystery Plays are produced only once every five years.
The 2018 production takes place at Chester Cathedral from 27th June to 14th July.
Tickets are available from www.chestermysteryplays.com, by calling 01244 500 959, or in person at the Chester Cathedral box office.
Below is the full text of the Reading of the Banns, written by Deborah McAndrew.
Worshipful Mayor of this fair city
We come today respectfully
Both men and women solemnly
With Chester’s children all,
To bow to your authority
And seek permission publicly
To play our plays full heartily
Within the city wall.
In times when sacred Testament
Of God’s great love and sacrament
Was never heard so eloquent
In common English tongue,
These Mystery Plays, most excellent
Made God’s good purpose evident
With language plain and relevant
In action, verse, and song.
Bible tales to entertain.
Lucifer, with proud disdain
Tempting Eve, and wicked Cain
That killed his brother, Abel.
Adam’s shame and sinful stain,
Noah’s 40 nights of rain,
Gentle Jesu, sorely slain,
That born was in a stable.
So, as our forebears sought consent –
All with good and grave intent
For this theatrical event
On their most holy days –
Is your Worship here content?
Will you kindly give assent,
For this company to present
The Chester Mystery Plays?
