THE world-famous York Mystery Plays will be returning next year in a month-long presentation.

York Minster will undergo a spectacular transformation to host the medieval cycle of plays for the first time since the year 2000.

On that occasion more than 28,000 people attended the sell-out performances which had an ensemble cast of more than 200 local amateur actors and, in keeping with tradition, just one professional actor.

The 2000 production on a stage in front of a specially-built stand of tiered seating was originally intended to be a one-off but, after attracting people from as far away as the USA, Australia, Japan, South Africa and even Papua New Guinea, the Minster decided to stage them again in 2010.

However, financial concerns and anxieties about a possible clash with major restoration and construction work led to the plans being abandoned.

The plays were then successfully staged in the Museum Gardens in 2012, leaving the way open for another staging in 2016, in line with a traditional four-year cycle.

And next year the Minster will be transformed into a giant auditorium that will run throughout June.

Experienced producer Nicola Corp will oversee the planning and logistical arrangements and other key appointments will be announced shortly.

The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, said: “After a gap of 16 years it is a great pleasure and enormously exciting to confirm the staging of this second, landmark production of the Mystery Plays at York Minster.

“This will be an important event for the city, Yorkshire and the wider Northern Province and we hope that it will inspire our local community to get involved through drama, music, education and the many satellite projects and initiatives that we hope will spin-off from the production.”