York Minster is offering learners of all ages a unique opportunity to meet key members of the professional production team that are staging this summer’s theatrical epic – the York Minster Mystery Plays.

The special Wednesday afternoon learning matinee Q&A sessions, which will follow every Wednesday matinee, will each offer the chance to question a different member of the team behind the production. Whether it’s finding out from the Musical Director how you write music to work within a Cathedral, to the Stage Manager talking about how to manage a 200 strong community cast and make sure everything is in the right place at the right time, they will all enable participants to delve deeper into the Plays.

The first learning matinee on Wednesday 1 June will feature the York Minster Mystery Plays 2016 writer; Mike Poulton. Mike wrote the York Millennium Mystery Plays staged at York Minster in 2000. His list of writing credits since then has been remarkable with his work being performed at theatres across the country including the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, the Crucible in Sheffield, the Chichester Festival Theatre and widely in London’s West End including the Old Vic, the Almeida and the Donmar Warehouse.

Mike wrote the scripts for the RSC’s productions of Hilary Mantel’s global best-selling novels ‘Wolf Hall’ and ‘Bring up the Bodies’. The production became a sensation for the RSC in 2013-2014, breaking box office records at Stratford upon Avon and at the Aldwych in London.

Nicola Corp, Producer of the Mystery Plays, commented:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to come along and meet face to face with professionals from the world of theatre. Find out what it takes to bring these epic stories to life on stage and bring along your questions. Whether you are interested in drama, English literature, theology, history, event management or just have a thirst to know more, they are open to learners of all ages.”

The Mystery Plays run from 26 May to 30 June and dramatise the greatest story ever told – from the creation of heaven and earth to the last judgement. It’s the first time in 16 years and only the second time in their near 700 year history that the Mystery Plays have been performed at York Minster, following sell-out performances in 2000.

The Wednesday matinee performances start at 1.30pm and the Q&A session will last approximately 45 minutes. Tickets are priced at £15, which includes the post-performance Q&A.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.yorkminster.org/mysteryplays2016 by calling 01904 623568 or in person from the York Theatre Royal’s Box Office at the De Grey Rooms in St Leonards Place, York, and at York Minster’s visitor admission desks.