What Is Chester Mystery Plays and What Does the Website Offer?

Updated

Chester Mystery Plays is a large-scale community theatre festival that stages medieval mystery plays in and around Chester Cathedral, performed every five years under professional direction. The most recent full production was in 2023; the next is planned for 28 June–14 July 2028, with 19 performances. The website at chestermysteryplays.com is the event's official home for its history, past production archives, visitor information, and ways to support or join the project.

What the Plays Are

The Chester Mystery Plays bring medieval pageantry to modern audiences through music, drama, and storytelling, described on the site as "telling the greatest stories ever told." The production is presented mainly by members of the local community, with professional direction guiding hundreds of participants of all ages who make up the cast, crew, and support teams in administration, marketing, and front of house.

The site positions the event as one of the largest community events in the UK and a highlight of the British arts calendar, attracting audiences from around the world.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail Information
What it is Community theatre festival of medieval mystery plays
Where In and around Chester Cathedral, Chester, UK
Frequency Every five years
Most recent production 2023, in the nave of Chester Cathedral
Next production Wed. 28 June – Sat. 14 July 2028 (19 performances)
Who performs Hundreds of local volunteers under professional direction

What the Website Covers

The site is organised around a few practical areas:

  • Discover More / About the Mystery Plays — background on what the plays are and their significance.
  • Production cycles — dedicated pages for the 2023, 2018, and 2013 cycles, plus a Historic Archive for earlier material.
  • Chester City Passion — a separate related production documented on the site.
  • Visit Chester and Directions — practical information for planning a trip to see the plays.
  • Sponsor Us and Donate — ways for individuals and corporate partners to support the event financially. The site notes that costs "continue to rise alarmingly" and that public and corporate support is needed to keep the event going.
  • Get Involved — entry point for people interested in participating.
  • Receive Updates — a subscription page for news about future productions.

Who the Site Is For

  • Prospective audience members planning to attend the 2028 performances can use the visiting and directions pages, and subscribe for updates as details are announced.
  • People interested in the event's history can browse the cycle pages and historic archive.
  • Local residents wanting to participate can start with the Get Involved section.
  • Supporters and businesses can find sponsorship and donation options.

Practical Notes

The site uses cookies and presents a consent choice on entry. A PayPal option appears among the site's payment-related links. Beyond the confirmed 2028 dates, specific ticketing, pricing, and programme details are not stated on the homepage, so the updates subscription is the reliable way to receive them as they are published.