This year is the 40th year in which Long Crendon villagers have staged a cycle of Mystery Plays, an impressive history in its own right. But when one adds the fact that these plays are based on the 15th-century York Cycle of Plays (the most complete known cycle), the history behind each performance stretches back a further 600 plus years.

Each play originated with a Trade or Craft Guild. The four plays being performed this year are The Butchers’ Play, which presents the Crucifixion of Christ, played this year by Tim Kendall, pictured.

In The Saddlers’ Play, The Harrowing of Hell, sees Christ descended into hell while his body was still in the tomb in order to rescue significant figures who had pre-deceased him. They are rescued after confronting the Devil and John the Baptist, Simeon, David, Moses, Isaiah and Adam and Eve all ascend to heaven.

The Carpenters’ Play, The Resurrection, rehearses how the Roman and Jewish powers wanted to ensure that Jesus’s followers did not remove his body from the tomb as they feared this would undermine their authority and give credence to the Resurrection. The Roman military guard failed, and the play culminates with the three Marys and their witness of an empty tomb.

The Scriveners’ Play, Doubting Thomas and the Ascension, shows Thomas needing physical confirmation of the Resurrection.

Great attention has been given to ensuring that the costumes, the music and the dramatisation are as faithful to the medieval tradition as possible. The costumes are all based on images in paintings and manuscripts from the time resulting in a cast with a strong 15th-century feel to it. And the music, mainly a cappella, is based on known contemporary scores.

Before the performance, the cast process along the High Street and the audience are invited to join them.

In addition there is the option to enjoy a medieval banquet prior to the performance and the opportunity to feast in style, accompanied by music played on instruments of the period, such as crumhorns and recorders.

The plays were originally designed for a population who could not read or write as a way of keeping the Christian story alive.

In keeping with this tradition, the actors speak very directly to the audience. In the setting of a comparatively small, ancient church this makes for a powerful performance and creates the opportunity for audience participation.

In the 21st century, when reading and writing are the norm, the plays serve to provide a very vivid and moving way of hearing the Christian story told and to experience it through medieval eyes and perceptions. The plays and banquets take place on the evenings in St Mary’s Church from April 26-28. For more information: www.mysteryplays.moonfruit.

com.