Audition pieces for the 2024 production
To download an audition piece please right-click on a link below and select 'Save as...' or 'Save Link as' (PC) or just click on the link to view the file (Mobile/Tablet/PC)
AUDITIONS FOR THE PLAYERS OF ST PETER'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION OF SCENES FROM MEDIEVAL MYSTERY PLAYS will be held at St Saviour Eton Road NW3 4SU at 7pm on Monday 12 and Monday 19 August
New members interested in the rare opportunity to experience this colourful and unusual from of theatre – both as performers or as backstage helpers - are welcome. No prior knowledge of medieval literature or drama is required! Audition pieces can be downloaded from this page, and everyone will have a chance to read a range of parts to show what they can do. Don't be frightened of the language – words are pronounced pretty much as written even if you are not familiar with them.
ABOUT MEDIEVAL MYSTERY PLAYS
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, including one associated with the City of Chester. It is possible to see in the Mystery cycles the root of all English drama from Shakespeare to Panto!
A complete performance of a cycle of Mystery Plays lasted a full day and consisted of around 40 plays, which together tell the Christian story of the world from Creation to Last Judgment. Our performances require less stamina from casts and audience, and present a programme lasting around an hour and a half featuring a selection of plays mostly focusing on the Christmas story. We preserve the original medieval language with its rhymes and imaginative use of language, adapted to be understood by modern audiences. The selection of plays we have chosen this year features the Emperor Octavian and Sybil the Sage, a pair of midwives, the three Kings (and with luck their dromedaries) and a traditionally nasty Herod and, of course, Mary and Joseph and assorted angels.
THE PLAYERS OF ST PETER have performed an annual Christmas production of selections from these Mystery Plays for more than 60 years, originally in a selection of City Churches, but based since 2016 in St Saviour Eton Road NW3, conveniently located a few minutes from Chalk Farm station on the Northern Line and not far from a couple of nice pubs for after rehearsals. Despite the religious subject matter of the plays the group is not affiliated to any particular faith and most of our members take part because we enjoy the opportunity to experience this unique art form.
Rehearsals will take place mostly on Mondays from 2 September. Performance dates are Thursday – Saturday 5-7 December, with matinee and evening performance on the Saturday The plays call for a wide range of parts both large and small, some of which can if necessary be doubled. But even the larger parts are not unmanageable; and the small parts can easily accommodate people who would like to take part but can only commit to a limited number of rehearsals.
Music is always a feature of our productions, so if you are mostly interested in singing/playing an instrument we would be very pleased to hear from you. We also welcome backstage and front of house helpers.
Any questions please contact the director Gill Taylor on director.posp@gmail.com
