Yiimimangaliso (The Mysteries)
  • Sunday 24 September 2023, 2pm
  • The Stoller Hall
  • FREE with suggested donation (Booking required)
Book tickets
Image Yiimimangaliso (The Mysteries)

Part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023.

In England of the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mystery Plays developed to bring biblical stories to the streets. Performed by the appropriate Town’s Guild  (early  Trade Unions), the Water Carriers performing  Noah’s Flood, the Goldsmiths, The Coming of the Kings.

Most towns in Medieval England may have had their own plays, including Chester.  Each broadly reflecting the values and identities of their home city.

Chester, a border town with Wales and then a port, is more roughly comic and violent than the others.

Performed over three days during Whitsun it was a fantastic opportunity for the craftsmen to not only demonstrate their religious fervour, ensuring a reward in the afterlife, but also to showcase their worldly skills and abilities, thus attracting new clients and markets.

South African-based theatre company Portobello Isango’s version of the Chester Cycle is a complete reworking of their past productions of these plays, now adapted for a core chamber group of Isango’s senior performers. Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, The Nativity, The Miracles, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection will be told in Xhosa, Zulu, English, Latin and Afrikaans with choral music, a capella singing, township percussion and dance.

As part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival, we present a filmed version of this performance.

Members of theatre company Portobello Isango performing 'The Mysteries'

 

🞻🞻🞻🞻🞻 

‘Utterly captivating … an exhilarating sensory feast.’

Evening Standard

 

🞻🞻🞻🞻🞻 

‘Sensational … Shows as moving and uplifting as this only arrive once in a blue moon’

Daily Telegraph

 

Logo reads Digital Theatre plus

Yiimimangaliso (The Mysteries)
  • Sunday 24 September 2023, 2pm
  • The Stoller Hall
  • FREE with suggested donation (Booking required)
Book tickets

Ages: 16+
Content warning: Some scenes of full frontal nudity, violence and depiction of crucifixion

Part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023.

In England of the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mystery Plays developed to bring biblical stories to the streets. Performed by the appropriate Town’s Guild  (early  Trade Unions), the Water Carriers performing  Noah’s Flood, the Goldsmiths, The Coming of the Kings.

Most towns in Medieval England may have had their own plays, including Chester.  Each broadly reflecting the values and identities of their home city.

Chester, a border town with Wales and then a port, is more roughly comic and violent than the others.

Performed over three days during Whitsun it was a fantastic opportunity for the craftsmen to not only demonstrate their religious fervour, ensuring a reward in the afterlife, but also to showcase their worldly skills and abilities, thus attracting new clients and markets.

South African-based theatre company Portobello Isango’s version of the Chester Cycle is a complete reworking of their past productions of these plays, now adapted for a core chamber group of Isango’s senior performers. Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, The Nativity, The Miracles, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection will be told in Xhosa, Zulu, English, Latin and Afrikaans with choral music, a capella singing, township percussion and dance.

As part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival, we present a filmed version of this performance.

Members of theatre company Portobello Isango performing 'The Mysteries'

 

🞻🞻🞻🞻🞻 

‘Utterly captivating … an exhilarating sensory feast.’

Evening Standard

 

🞻🞻🞻🞻🞻 

‘Sensational … Shows as moving and uplifting as this only arrive once in a blue moon’

Daily Telegraph

 

Logo reads Digital Theatre plus

You may also like

  1. Chetham’s Lunchtime Concerts

    Carole Nash Hall
    Thu 12 December 2024 1:30pm

    Take a lunch break and enjoy this free recital by some of the UK’s most exciting young musicians! Discover the...

  2. Chetham’s Woodwind Academy Day

    Across Chetham's and The Stoller Hall
    Sun 2 February 2025 10am

    A free, one-day event for young woodwind players, aged 9 – 17 (from grade 3 upwards). Come and join us...

  3. Chetham’s Relaxed Lunchtime Concerts

    The Atrium at the Stoller Hall
    Wed 5 February 2025 1:30pm

    Make your lunchtime magical with our free Relaxed Lunchtime Concerts featuring performances by some of the UK’s most exciting young...

  4. Chetham’s Summer School 2025

    Chetham's School of Music
    Mon 4 August 2025

    Chetham’s School of Music will open its doors again for a spectacular summer school in 2025 Suitable for singers, pianists...