Revealed: Rare memento of Judi Dench's days in York Mystery Plays
I WAS delighted to see the Judi Dench feature in your Nostalgia section (The Press, Wednesday August 7) but disappointed at your maths.
Judi did act in the first Mystery Plays in 1951 as an Angel – but her final role as Mary in 1957 was six years later not three as stated (page 22)!
Between, in 1954, she played the Angel who greets the women at Jesus’ tomb, a speaking part.
Readers can find more in the Mystery Plays archive and website for the National Centre for Early Music (www.yorkmysteryplays.org).
The collections include every programme and of course photos but much more, such as a linen tablecloth embroidered by a York teacher in 1957.
Read next: Judi Dench and Gyles Brandreth in Grand Opera House show
Her non-speaking part gave her time to capture the names and signatures of the cast in cloth and thread.
I attach a photo of the centre of the tablecloth, enlarged with Judi’s signature next to Jesus, and a tiny 1957 in the middle. I also attach a larger picture with the whole cloth.
Margaret Scott ,
Mystery Play Volunteer Archivist,
National Centre for Early Music,
St Margaret's Church,
Walmgate,
York
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