Mystery plays were so called because they
presented the mysteries of religious faith.
Although mostly drawn from the Bible the plays
also incorporate irreverent local humour,
folklore, legendary material and music.
Many different versions were performed
across England during the Middle Ages,
but only four sets of plays have survived
more or less complete.
It is possible to see in the Mystery cycles the root
of all English drama from Shakespeare to Panto!
The fifteenth-century plays that go under the name ‘N. Town’, from which we have
taken our selection this year, are so called because they cannot be associated with
any one particular town, but they can be located by their dialect to the region of
East Anglia, a thriving area for local drama in that period.
They form an intriguing and varied collection.
As well as more familiar biblically based episodes, the text includes some legendary
material not represented in other surviving English medieval drama, in particular,
scenes dealing with the conception and early life of the Virgin Mary and her
betrothal to Joseph.
We have included some of this material in our selection for this year’s production,
alongside the better known scenes of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem
and the visit of the Shepherds.
The action calls for some ingenious visual effects, the pace and tone vary
from solemn and devotional to lively and irreverent, and the language ranges
from formal to sharply colloquial or affectingly natural.
We do hope that you can join us and get to enjoy these fascinating plays
as much as we do.
THE PLAYERS OF ST PETER have performed an annual Christmas production
of selections from these Mystery Plays for more than 70 years, originally in a selection of
City Churches, but since 2016 in St Saviour's church, Eton Road, London, NW3 4SU.
Despite the religious subject matter of the plays the group is not affiliated
to any particular faith and most of our members take part to enjoy the opportunity
of experiencing this unique art form.
- Thursday 4th December 2025 7:30pm
- Friday 5th December 2025 7:30 pm
- Saturday 6th December 2025 3:00pm & 6:30pm
General admission: £10
Student / Under-18: £5
Advance booking is recommended; however the option of paying by cash or card
on the door for each performance is still available subject to venue capacity.