YORK CORDWAINERS
The Refounded Company
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The Cordwainers and the York Mystery Plays 2006
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The Mystery Plays
 | Traditionally the Guilds of York have performed the mystery plays on waggons dragged through the street of York, since the 13th century. Each Guild has it's own play but in 2006 the Cordwainers produced the play of the defunct Company of Saddlers, The Harrowing of Hell. Like the Cordwainers, the Saddlers worked with leather so this choice was particularly appropriate.
The illustrations were taken during the 16th July 2006 performance at the Museum Gardens 'station' by the Company Archivist, Mark Whyman.
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The Court of Assistants
 | The Master and members of the Company committee, the Court of Assistants process before the waggon
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The Court of Assistants 2
 | The Court also observe the play – as in the past a great deal of effort by a great many people is required to bring forth a Mystery Play and in all some 30 – 40 people have been involved. In viewing the play at each of the stations it is performed, the Court are recognising the effort and enthusiasm that has been brought to achieving a magnificent performance.
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The Play
 | The Harrowing of Hell is taken from the Apocrypha, that part of the Bible which is rarely printed nowadays. In it Christ descends to Hell to fight Satan for the souls of the men and women imprisoned there. The play is symbolic of the battle between good and evil.
Ian Bithell & Rachel Hollingworth playing Adam and Eve appear from the mouth of Hell |
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The Waggon and Set
 | | Traditionally the waggons, together with the props were stored in Toft Green and were the responsibility, of the most junior officer of the Court, the Pageant Master. This was a particularly important role as the Company could be fined heavily if the waggon was not up to standard. It was probably seen as a good way of testing a young man who had just joined the Court, to see if he had the qualities to proceed to be Master some years hence. In 2006 the title Pageant Master is still in use and in fact James Webster, one of the current Pageant Masters designed the waggon. This is a complex task as the set has to be strong enough to support Satan jumping around yet light enough for Chris Foster and the Waggon Team of Thorpe Weston Scouts to move it through the streets and up the many hills that you don’t notice until you are pushing a heavy waggon. The set, intended to be terrifying, was built by Kit Bird, Alan Dickens and Sarah Henson. |
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The Actors - Jesus Christ
 | | Christ is played by Kit Bird, a Past Master of the Company, who also took this role in the 2002 Waggon Plays when the Company performed their own play, the Raising of Lazarus. The major characters have very lengthy script to learn as well as overcoming the problems of the pronunciation of the Old English words in this ancient series of plays. |
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The Actors - Satan
 | | Satan is played by Sam Valentine. |
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The Actors - Moses
 Noel Bakes, MBE & Legion d’Honour, a veteran thespian takes the part of Moses. Noel is a Past Master of the Company as well as its longest serving Beadle. He also performed in the 2002 Waggon Plays
Altogether nearly 20 people had acting roles in this year’s play and the Company is very grateful for the time and enthusiasm that each has brought to the production. |
Producer & Wardrobe
 | The producer Kathleen Foster, seen here on the right, is a veteran of many productions and is a Past Master of the Company, the first lady to achieve that honour. Angela McMullen who is responsible for the wardrobe as well as taking the role of Astoreth is seen on the left.
Taking the role of Anaball is Leah Buchanan, centre. |
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The Choir
 | | John Hastie and the Choir of the Parish Church of St. Olave, were almost on home territory when they reached Museum the Gardens. We are grateful to them for adding that extra touch of music, despite the heat and their heavy robes. |
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