Princess Beatrice visits York Mystery Plays Costume Workshop

Wed 20 Jun 2012

Princess Beatrice of York paid a special visit to the York Mystery Plays costume workshops on Tuesday 19 June to see some of the 3,000 individual items being made. Her Royal Highness spoke to a number of the 60 volunteers who are helping to create the costumes, all inspired by the fashions of the 1940s and 1950s.

Whilst at the workshop she also took time to speak to Community Producer Liam Evans-Ford and Anna Gooch, who has designed the costumes, and other members of the behind the scenes team putting on the plays.
 
Princess Beatrice was keen to learn more about the plays after hearing about them at the Yorkshire Museum in April, when she visited with Her Majesty The Queen. Her father, The Duke of York, is also one of the patrons for the plays.

Prior to the Royal visit, Janet Barnes, Chief Executive of York Museums Trust, said:
“We are delighted that Princess Beatrice will be coming back to York to learn more about York Mystery Plays, in particular the costume and design side of the project. In her recent visit to the Yorkshire Museum she was interested in hearing from the Mystery Plays team and we are thrilled that she has chosen to come back and see first hand the pride and passion that people in York have for the plays. The volunteers who are creating the 3,000 items of costume are doing a terrific job and it is fantastic for them to have Her Royal Highness interested in meeting them to hear more about their work.”

Princess Beatrice heard a little about the history of the York Cycle of Mystery Plays before getting a sneak preview of some of the finished costumes.

The visit culminated with Her Royal Highness turning her hand to Pattern Cutting, as she cut the first piece of fabric that will be used for the Angel costumes under the supervision of Community Wardrobe Supervisor Janet Hull.

As she left, Princess Beatrice was presented with various gifts including a Mystery Plays “Crew” t-shirt which we hope she will wear with pride!

To listen to Community Wardrobe Supervisor Janet Hull’s reaction to the visit, listen to our AudioBoo: Audioboo with Janet Hull

 

Photograph by Mike Cowling.

 

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