THE Evening Press campaign to save York's Mystery Plays has won backing from Community Regeneration York (CRY).

The organisation, which sprang out of the Regeneration Partnership set up in the wake of the York Carriageworks closure, aims to ensure local people benefit from economic growth in the city.

Chief executive Simon Brereton said CRY was very interested in supporting the plays.

"I was in Wagon Plays when I was at school in York and am a big fan of the Mystery Plays," he said.

"They are an important part of the life of the city, bringing people from all walks of life together to produce something of real cultural significance, and we must keep them alive!

"I am delighted that the Evening Press has launched the Save The Mystery Plays campaign - CRY will do everything we can to help."

The paper launched a campaign last week to keep the Plays alive, following revelations that they might not be performed again until at least 2010, and possibly not even then.

We suggested the only way the plays could be saved would be for people with the right experience, commitment and time to come forward to join a prospective board, which might attempt to stage the plays again in 2005. Mr Brereton said he could offer practical help on several fronts.

"Firstly, I would be very happy to be part of the Board. I have 20 years experience of managing voluntary organisations, including fundraising from the lottery and other sources, working with volunteers, committee work, etc."

He said CRY had also just started a new project called ImageWorks, which took York unemployed people and helped them into work in the creative sector by giving them experience of practical design projects, and the team could help with design work for the Plays

"Our first team of workers has just started, and we already have a diverse and interesting range of projects including work with the Community Health Council, Alliance Francaise and York CVS designing annual reports and brochures, web design for similar clients, and multimedia work with Kew, at Castle Howard, Malton Museum and the Tang Hall Community Arts project. By being involved in the plays, we would be able to give people on the project high-profile work to do which would help in the overall task of getting them long-term employment in the creative sector."

Updated: 08:48 Friday, August 01, 2003