ON Christmas Eve, Mary and Joseph can be revealed - or at least the actors chosen to play them in next year's Mystery Plays at York Minster.

Former Tadcaster Grammar School pupil Ruby Barker, of Church Fenton, near Tadcaster, who celebrated her 19th birthday yesterday, will take on the role of Mary in the spectacular production.

Mark Comer, 57, from the Burton Stone Lane area of York, who played Zacchaeus when the Mystery Plays were last staged at the Minster to mark the new Millennium in 2000, plays her husband Joseph.

Ruby's previous performing experiences include a part in a TV advert for the Royal Bank of Scotland when she was 12 and her long term ambition is to act with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She said yesterday she was 'really pleased and excited' to be given a key role in the Mystery Plays. "It is a terrific honour to be chosen to play Mary in a production that means so much to the City of York," she said. "I feel so privileged."

Mark, a graphic designer, has been involved in Mystery Play productions for many years as actor, set designer and stage builder, with roles including Noah and Jesus in the 1994 Wagon Plays and Beelzebub in the 2014 Wagon Plays.

He said: “I’m delighted, a little bit daunted but also very excited to have landed such an important part in what will be an amazing production.

"These plays are deeply embedded in the culture, history and traditions of York and the wider region and I have come to appreciate how special they are."

He said he was really looking forward to performing in the cathedral once again, adding: "I have always considered the Minster to be not only one of the most architecturally beautiful buildings in the country but also one of the most spiritual too."

More than 200 performers will take part in the production after casting was confirmed, including about 50 children and young people.

Letters have been sent to everyone who auditioned offering them parts in the Plays, which open on May 26 and run for five weeks.

Director Phillip Breen said York had a wealth of talented community performers and the audition process had been 'one of the most beautiful and life affirming things' he had been involved in for years.

The Nave will be transformed into a 1,000-seater auditorium for the performances, with tickets going on sale at 9.30am on Wednesday January 13.