Pupils, staff, OPs, parents and ex-parents took to the streets of York to join open air performances of the internationally-renowned York Mystery Plays, the best of the few surviving medieval cycles of Biblical plays.
A selection of the 48 Plays are performed every four years on farm waggons which are pushed through the city centre streets. This year 11 plays were chosen by Artistic Director Tom Straszewski to represent key moments in Christian history. Judgement Day, directed by Pocklington School Head of Drama Alan Heaven, was the final play and developed a new take on God’s destruction of the world.
It depicts how God has had enough of mankind’s failure to honour him so he wipes them out - then resurrects their souls and those of all the dead for the final judgement upon every individual. Jesus explains how those who helped each other were actually serving him, while those who failed to do so were behaving sinfully. Then the Devils take the bad ones to Hell while the Saved celebrate in Heaven.
Judgement Day proved to be a spectacular finale to the four-hour series of plays, performed for two September weekends and one midweek show, and had praise heaped upon it. It was performed by School actors in conjunction with theatrical East Riding steampunk Morris dancers Ravens Morris, who also provided design input. Music came courtesy of The Bertie Set.
Based on the concept of illumination, the actors all wore white symbolising purity, hope and – for some cultures – death as well. They included a range of historical periods, veils and distinctive characters. Key amongst these were Mother Figure, played by staff member Heather Young who bore babies upon her back and sides and whose death was painfully signalled by the slow removal of these children over haunting music. Death’s Masquers, played by Ellie-May Rooke (Lower 6th), Hannah East (L6) and Sophie Anderson (5th Year) wore death masks which matched two others they carried, creating an unearthly and horrifying sense of the inevitable fate of us all.
The key role of God was taken by teacher Adam Hall, whose magnificent, booming voice carried even behind a full face mask; while Jesus was Drama Department volunteer Julian Finnigan, a professional actor whose quality shone through. His Jesus was a powerful and charismatic figure who entered with ribbons of blood streaming from his hands and sides.
Freya (L6), Zac (3rd Year) and parent Louise Stewart threw themselves superbly into the production as Souls, as did Henry Hudson (3rd Year) and mother Caroline, while Adam Smith (4th Year) handled the dual role of Plague Bellman and Soul with tremendous confidence. Adam’s parents Paul and Jenny, and Henry’s dad Oli, were the muscle which kept the waggon rolling.
In contrast, Kobby Fofie (5th Year) joined the Angels, wearing only saffron trousers, his head haloed in shining golden feathers and strange Angelic writing painted on to his body, while OP Corinne Clark and her mother Ursula played their Fallen Angel opposites with snarling attitude.
Amongst the many highlights were the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War (a flag throwing dance); Famine (a giant and articulated praying mantis puppet); Plague (diseased children bound to their mother by ropes); Death (an enormous processional puppet, with long grey hair and a rose in its hand).
Mr Heaven said: “The reviews and comments were overwhelming. Thousands of people witnessed this play and queues of them came to talk and to praise it. For all concerned it was a wonderful, community adventure which has raised the Drama profile of the School even higher than before. Thanks to all who took part.”
Reviews from social media, people, emails and press include:
‘a spectacular finale…a scene of salvation in our troubled times’ (York Press)
‘fantastic performance from staff, students and parents this afternoon. Wonderful to see the reaction from the crowds!.’
'beautiful, moving, scary. This is by one of the professional theatres right? …No! Seriously? Wow!’
‘a fantastic fusion of steampunk and soul: theatre & music capturing the heart of medieval mystery play performance’
‘Congratulations AGAIN to Pocklington School for being the best thing in the Mystery Plays. It was an incredible experience – thanks so much.’
‘Here was reaffirmation that the York Mystery Plays have contemporary resonance, drawing together disparate people to watch, maybe initially out of curiosity, but then through the power of performance in song, story and costume, in the bustling Sunday shopping streets.’ (York Press)