First night of Chester Mystery Plays flooded out

Jun 27 2008 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

EVEN Noah's Ark couldn't save the performers in Chester's Mystery Plays from the deluge of rain that fell on the city last night Thursday, June 26).

An hour before the opening of the first preview night of the quinquennial medieval pageant, the heavens opened and torrents of rain lashed the 30 metre wide set which is open to the elements.

Hundreds of actors, dancers, singers, children and a donkey turned up ready for the show but health and safety officials deemed it unsafe to go ahead.

Ironically, BBC North West tonight were at Chester Cathedral Green to film the weather report from the site but weathergirl Diane Oxberry couldn't do anything to stem the flow of rain pouring down. The cast, however, provided a suitable backdrop for the report, singing musical director Matt Baker's “The rain is pouring down” from the Noah scene of The Prophecy.

Ronno Griffiths, who plays Eve in the Prophecy said: “The cast, the backstage people, the musicians, the designers and everyone involved were bitterly disappointed after the months of rehearsal. It was the right decision, however, because health and safety would have been compromised, particularly for the children.”

Jo Sykes, chairman of Chester Mystery Plays Ltd, added: “We were devastated to have to make this decision, having spent five years planning the production and six months in rehearsal. However, we had no alternative because our first priorty is to our actors and their safety. There are 200 children in The Prophecy and it was just too dangerous on the set.

“The set has been treated for wet weather but this was an extreme situation. Thankfully this was a preview night, not the opening night, and we look forward to opening with The Prophecy on Saturday, June 28 at 1pm and the Fulfilment at 7.30pm.”

Those who purchased tickets for last night's performance were offered alternative tickets for the plays, which run until July 19.