Discover the Mysteries

The York Mystery Plays were performed by the medieval craft guilds, and reflected the artistry of their communities. This tradition was resurrected in the 20th century and still goes on today, in the streets, parks and historic buildings of York.

A full list of the Plays, their background stories and potential challenges can be found here.

Create Your Own

This project originally ran between 2020-21, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.   In a time when we were no longer able to gather in person to create plays, we instead found how to perform in our own homes.

This website remains as a reminder of those times, and as  a resource for those of us still unable to participate in person, or who are looking for a creative challenge.

Watch the Plays

Fifteen of the Plays were adapted as online performances, which can be viewed here and via Youtube.

If you've been making other domestic or  online Mystery Plays, please get in touch - we'd love to publish these more widely.

Part of a PhD project on Community Theatre at the University of York
York Mysteries@home is part of an ongoing investigation into community theatre in York, as part of a PhD by Creative Practice in Theatre (Directing). For further details on Tom Straszewski, please click here.
Supervised by Dr Ollie Jones (TFTI) and Dr Kate Giles (Archaeology). Funded by the Department of Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media.