A TRADITION spanning hundreds of years will make its long-awaited return to York tonight.

The Museum Gardens will be the setting for the first in a series of performances of the York Mystery Plays for the first time since 1988.

A purpose-built auditorium has been set up in the grounds against a backdrop of St Mary’s Abbey, and organisers say almost 25,000 tickets have now been sold for the Biblical productions, which run until August 27. Some matinee performances have virtually sold out.

The highest-profile performers will be Ferdinand Kingsley, the son of Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley, who is taking on the roles of God and Jesus, while former Coronation Street star Graeme Hawley, will play the Devil.

However, the majority of the 250-strong Mystery Plays cast will consist of amateur actors from across York, with about 1,700 community volunteers involved.

The performances are expected to draw in crowds of up to 1,400 each night, but although the audience will be under cover, the actors will not – which could mean a soggy start for the Mystery Plays, as weather experts were yesterday forecasting showers during this evening.

The first production will start at 7.30pm and organisers have guaranteed bad weather will not lead to any cancellations.

Janet Barnes, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said: “I watched a dress rehearsal on Tuesday evening and it was fantastic.

“It is fabulous to see how the production has come together after so much work by more than 2,000 people, including the 1,700 volunteers.

“We are really excited that opening night is now here and we are looking forward to the public coming to enjoy this really spectacular piece of theatre.”

The productions themselves will be the centrepiece of a wider Community Festival of events to celebrate the Mystery Plays, including free wagon-play performances and other plays around York.

Tickets for the York Mystery Plays 2012 can be bought in person from the York Theatre Royal box office and the Yorkshire Museum or by phoning 01904 623568, while they can also be booked online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk