2 Plays yet to be Cast

There are still two plays in the Lichfield Mysteries cycle yet to be cast.

Of the 27 plays, Joseph's Doubt (cast of three) and The Slaughter of the Innocents (cast of around 17) have not been allocated to a group.

Groups will benefit from the expertise of a professional team leading up to the production and be able to participate in workshops in the run-up to the event on May 6 & 7, 2012.

Actors from schools, churches or dramatic societies, or individuals who do not belong to any particular group who would like to take part, are asked to email Administrator and Production Manager Jill Taylor for details: jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk or call 01543 264602 as soon as possible.

Carolyn Scott Jeffs

A radio and TV playwright has compiled a series of contemporary pieces for the 2012 production of the Lichfield Mystery plays. Carolyn Scott Jeffs, an actor, writer and director, has written contemporary links to be performed between the 27 medieval plays. Carolyn and Production Director Mark Fitzgerald are searching for actors to bring the scripts to life for the Mysteries in May next year.

Carolyn, said: We are looking for strong actors to perform these contemporary pieces. We need two women with playing ages of 30-60, two men who can play characters of 50-plus and two young women capable of playing 17 and 18-year-olds.

Casting dates and times will be announced later.

Carolyn is a member of the Mysteries’ Council of Management. Her early career was as an actor and director before becoming a writer. She has written stage plays Having it All, Wenches, Out in the Garden, Tarnished Angel and Elephants. Out in the Garden was a sell-out success at the Finborough Theatre, London and transferred to the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh. It was recently performed by Chelmsford Theatre Workshop in February 2011.

Her Radio 4 plays include Angel of New Street, Square Circle Triangle (which was runner up for the Richard Imison Award), Tarnished Wings, 21 Conversations with a Hairdresser, 15 Ways to Leave Your Lover, and her most recent play Jesus, The Devil and a Kid Called Death (inspired by her involvement with Lichfield Mysteries) was broadcast in February 2011. She has also written several episodes of the BBC1 drama Doctors.

Carolyn has been aware of the Lichfield Mysteries since they began; her daughter Lizzie has taken part in several cycles and is the author of The Reduced Mysteries. In the 2009 Mysteries Carolyn adapted and co-directed The Harrowing of Hell, for Lichfield Garrick, performed by a combined cast of all of Lichfield Garrick's youth groups. She is delighted to be involved again.

Carolyn is also a lecturer in Creative Writing at Loughborough University and continues to write for TV, radio and theatre.

Actors interested in auditioning for the contemporary links should contact Mysteries Administrator and Production Manager Jill Taylor: 01543 264602 or email: jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk.

Some of the people who took part in the last Mysteries, showing costumes and props from various plays

If so, you may be just the person Lichfield Mysteries is looking for.

The Mysteries organisation has hundreds of costumes and a multitude of props and accessories – but they need a volunteer or two to look after them.

Over the years, some spectacular costumes have been worn by thousands of actors taking part in the Mysteries. These range from the splendid and ornate to simple tunics, from Kings’ crowns to peasant’s caps – and they all need looking after.

Lichfield Mysteries are every three years and between performances costumes and props are stored and also loaned out to other companies, so it’s vital they are kept in good condition.

The Mysteries would like to hear from anyone who thinks they would like to become their volunteer wardrobe and props manager – perhaps two friends or a family may like to share the experience.

Interested volunteers should contact Mysteries Administrator Jill Taylor: 01543 264602 or email: jilltaylor@lichfieldmysteries.co.uk