THE interior of one of the region’s greatest seats of worship has been totally transformed into a 1,000-seat theatre.

York Minster’s magnificent nave has been turned into a theatrical auditorium to host the city‘s renowned series of Mystery Plays.

The spectacular stage, the vision of multi-award winning designer Max Jones, has an area of 1,700sqm, weighs over 60 tonnes and took more than 2000 man-hours to complete - and that’s before lighting, seating and sound were installed.

A Yorkshire-based company Raise the Roof were tasked with the epic stage build and managing director Dusty Rhodes, said: “If we laid the system scaffold used in building the stage and lighting towers end to end, it would go on for 10 kilometres - that’s about three times the length of the city’s walls.”

As the final artistic touches are added to the stage, the 150 strong community cast led by professional actor Philip McGinley, is facing the daunting challenge of tech rehearsals as opening night of May 26 draws ever closer.

Director Philip Breen said: "It's a huge thrill to see everyone fill this enormous stage.

“We're hitting a new phase - we've left the safety of the rehearsal room and we're in to the business end now, where we see everyone's work come together. “It's very exciting. And daunting. These community actors are truly extraordinary."

In accordance with tradition the Mystery Plays open on the feast day of Corpus Christi on 26 May. They run until June 30.

It is the first time in 16 years and only the second time in their near 700-year history that the medieval Mystery Plays have been performed at York Minster.

Tickets can be purchased online at yorkminster.org/mysteryplays2016 or 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.