In all the correspondence about the Mystery Plays one fact seems to have been ignored - that the plays, wonderful as they were, formed a part of something much bigger.
The four-yearly festival, of which they were the centrepiece, was a wonderful feast of music, drama, street theatre, fringe events and fun.
By being committed and booking ahead, the Festival Committee was able to obtain top names to perform in York. There were magical concerts in the Minster and who will ever forget the series of plays put on by the English Shakespeare Company at the Theatre Royal? They performed morning, afternoon and evening and it was impossible to get a seat if you hadn't booked.
Regarding the venue for the Mystery Plays, why is York so lily-livered? The setting in Museum Gardens was sublime. Of course it sometimes rained, but people were aware of the risk. The Edinburgh Tattoo, Regents Park and many smaller venues throughout the country put on their annual shows.
Ryedale puts on an excellent festival, much of it in the open air, and regularly puts York to shame.
I see there has been a tentative offer of support from the new city council. Let's take this up and campaign for the return of the four-yearly festival, not just of the Mystery Plays, but of the whole glorious mix of art, culture and fun.
Let's celebrate York again.
Meg Jones,
Western Terrace,
Haxby, York.
Updated: 11:11 Wednesday, June 25, 2003
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