York Guides

Ancient open-air Mystery Plays and a major exhibition on the city’s Roman emperor are planned in York this summer. More than 600 years since the tradition started, the Mystery Plays – recreating stories from the Bible -- will be performed on the streets of York this summer with The Creation of the World, The Harrowing of Hell and a graphic scene of the Crucifixion among the productions (July 9 and 16).

The Guilds of York will recreate the plays, only performed every four years, at four sites around the city and, following medieval procedure, the stage sets are built onto wagons which will be pushed through the streets.

Constantine the Great – York’s Roman Emperor -- is the subject of a major exhibition at The Yorkshire Museum (March 31-Oct. 29). It was 1,700 years ago in AD 306, that Constantine was proclaimed emperor by his troops.

This signalled the start of Christianity being adopted as the main religion in Europe and the creation of a new city which became Constantinople. On display will be sculptures, mosaics, weapons and silverware to tell his story.