ORGANISERS of the York Mystery Plays are appealing for musicians, actors and street performers to come forward to provide pre-show entertainment in the Museum Gardens.

They want the cream of York’s amateur and professional acts to volunteer to help create a carnival atmosphere before each show.

Liam Evans Ford, community producer of the plays, said: “We want to hear from a wide range of highly entertaining acts to come and get everybody in the carnival spirit before watching the plays.

“This could be something traditional like Morris Dancing, or something completely off the wall – as long as it is family friendly and creates a good atmosphere, that’s all that counts!”

Acts will perform, without power for amplification, in the gardens where people will circulate before heading to the stage area, as well as in the entrances and the food court.

Anyone interested in taking part should email their details to georgia@yorkmysteryplays2012.com.

The Plays are being staged in front of the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey throughout August.

Organisers say they hope people will bring picnics to have in the gardens before the productions if the weather is good, but stress that the stands have coverings to protect audiences if it does continue raining.

About 1,700 volunteers from across the York community are involved in the production, including about 500 in the cast.

They will be joining professional actors Ferdinand Kingsley and Graeme Hawley, who will be taking the parts of God/Jesus and the Devil respectively.