THE weekend’s other religious gathering in the city – the General Synod at the University of York – may have attracted the headlines, but the 2010 York Mystery Plays drew the crowds yesterday afternoon.

Mounted by the Guilds of York, as they were in 1998, 2002 and 2006, the Plays were presented on medieval waggons, in keeping with the medieval custom when the York cycle of plays was performed from dawn until dusk on Corpus Christi Day.

The 2010 production is being staged over two weekends, each featuring 12 plays brought forth by the Guild of Building; the Gild of Freemen; York St John University; Heslington Church; St Peter’s School, York; the Lords of Misrule, from the University of York; the Parish Church of St Luke the Evangelist, for the Company of Cordwainers; York Settlement Players for the Company of the Staple of England; the Company of Merchant Taylors; the Company of Butchers with the Parish Church of St Chad on Knavesmire; the Guild of Scriveners; and the Company of Merchant Adventurers.

More than 400 people, including actors, musicians and waggon crews, took part in yesterday’s performances, which ran from noon until about 7.15pm at four stations; Dean’s Park, College Green, St Sampson’s Square, and a new location for 2010, the Eye of York. For next Sunday’s performances, the Eye of York will be replaced by the Museum Gardens.

Artistic director Paul Toy was delighted with the performances yesterday, when the sun shone and the winds died down for the later-afternoon plays.

“Generally I’m very pleased with how the day went,” said Mr Toy. “We seem to have had a lot of good feedback; the audiences have responded to the variety of the performances, though everyone had their favourites, which is as it should be.

“We’ve had good numbers attending at all the stations – the Dean’s Park seating sold out – and we had only a little time slippage with the plays in the second half, though that will tighten up next weekend.

“The weather has been good to us and the actors, musicians and waggon-pulling teams have been very happy, which bodes well for next Sunday.”

Once again the plays will start at noon; information on seating tickets is available at mysteryplays.co.uk. Admission is free for those who stand.