Mystery play

Mystery plays are special shows that tell stories from the Bible. They were some of the first formal plays made in medieval Europe. The name comes from an old meaning of the word mystery, which meant a miracle. These plays helped people see important religious events in a new way. They showed many famous stories, like the Creation or the story of Adam and Eve.

Some plays also showed the story of Noah and the flood. Other shows focused on the life of Mary Magdalene. People loved these plays because they brought holy stories to life for everyone to see.

There were many ways to perform these shows. Sometimes, they were part of a cycle. A cycle is a large group of plays that tells a whole history. A full cycle could take up to twenty hours to perform. Because they were so long, they were often spread over many days.

In some cities, plays moved on decorated pageant carts. These carts traveled through the streets so different crowds could watch. This way, everyone in the town could see the stories. Some plays used big sets and special effects to wow the audience.

These plays have a long history that began many centuries ago. As early as the fifth century, people used living scenes in church services. These early shows were very simple and used Latin. Later, they became much more detailed and used the local language instead. At first, monks or clerics were the ones who wrote and directed them. In 1210, Pope Innocent III made a rule that clergy could not act on public stages. This changed things because town guilds began to take over the work.

In England, different craft guilds were responsible for different parts of the stories. For example, the York mercers took charge of the Doomsday pageant. The carpenters showed the building of the Ark. Bakers performed a miracle involving five loaves and fishes. Goldsmiths acted out the story of the wise men bringing gold and myrrh.

There were several famous English collections, like the York cycle with forty-eight pageants. The Towneley plays had thirty-two pageants, and the Chester cycle had twenty-four. In Spain, the Misteri d'Elx has been performed every year since the 13th century. This play is so special that UNESCO named it a masterpiece of human heritage.

Even though these plays are very old, people still perform them today. In the United Kingdom, the cycles in York and Chester were brought back in 1951. They are still performed by local guilds in those towns. Other places, like Lincoln and Lichfield, have also revived their mystery plays. Even famous theaters like Shakespeare's Globe have performed versions of these stories. In 2001, an African version of the Chester Cycle was even performed in London. These shows connect modern people to the stories and traditions of the past.