Pledge of support to York Mystery Plays 2012
The York Mystery Plays have received a
major funding boost from York St John University to help bring the
significance of the plays to school children across York.
York St John University has pledged a
total of £11,000, with £5,000 being used to create York Mystery
Plays education packs which have been sent to every primary and
secondary school in the city. The packs contain different workshop
and activity plans to encourage schools to engage with the plays
across the curriculum, including activities in history, art and
drama.
Siona Mackelworth, Director of Marketing at
York St John University, said:
“We are delighted to be supporting the 2012
York Mystery Plays. The University has a strong track record in
community performing arts and has enjoyed a long history of
collaboration with the Mystery Plays. We are actively engaged with
schools in lots of different ways and it is fantastic to be able to
widen our involvement by supporting the educational work of the
Mystery Plays.”
The York Mystery Plays have received a total
of £18,000 from organisations and businesses in the city. Alongside
York St John’s funding, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has donated
£5,000 and MooD International has pledged another £2,000. The three
separate organisations’ contributions will help York Theatre Royal,
York Museums Trust and Riding Lights Theatre Company as they
prepare to stage the outdoor production in the Museum Gardens
between 2 and 27 August 2012.
The new adaptation of the York Mystery Plays
is written by the Olivier award-winning Mike Kenny, who adapted
York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum’s The Railway
Children. They will spectacularly tell the story of the cosmic
battle between good and evil – from creation to the last judgement.
The community cast, which has included many York St John University
staff and students over the years, will be complemented by two
professional actors who are yet to be announced.
For more information about the York
Mystery Plays, visit www.yorkmysteryplays-2012.com
Picture shows: Dame Judi Dench as Mary in
the 1957 Mystery Plays in the Museum Gardens in York (York
Press)
For further information please contact
Amy Hall, PR & Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or
E: a.hall@yorksj.ac.uk
