Jane Dawson reports from the Chester Mystery Plays

THERE was barely an inch of floor space at St Mary’s Centre on Sunday when most of the acting company and about half of the choir came in for a Big Lunch Day.

The company was treated to a special viewing of the video trailer for the 2013 production – made by the University of Chester’s Harlequin Project, it features Jesus (Jonathan Sharps) being betrayed by Judas (Paul Williams).

Harriet Jones posted it on Facebook saying: “Where else can you hang out with wise men, angels, the Antichrist, Satan and even God himself? Spread the mysterious word!!”

Another highlight of the day was a voice workshop led by singer and vocal coach Janice Fryett, who is playing the first ever Mrs Herod. She said: “As a total voice geek, it was my pleasure to stand in front of the Mystery Play cast and spend half an hour tinkering with their voices.

“Their faces were a delight as they made sounds like witches and ducks or Hyacinth Bucket posh, but there was serious purpose behind it.

“Mainly to keep their voices safe and healthy for a long run by eliminating unhelpful tension and constriction, but also to learn how to project in a way befitting the magnitude of Chester Cathedral.”

Tickets for the 2013 Chester Mystery Plays are on sale at www.chestermysteryplays.com or 01244 500959.

View the Chester Mystery Plays trailer with this story on the Chester Chronicle website at www.chesterchronicle.co.uk.