As the 2018 cycle of the Chester Mystery Plays opens at Chester Cathedral, join writer Deborah McAndrew, director Peter Leslie Wild, Professor Heather Mitchell-Buck from the USA and cast member Rebecca Gates-Patch who plays Lucifer, in a lively discussion about the role of women in the medieval and modern productions.

Banned in the 16th century for ‘popery’ and bawdiness, the plays were revived in 1951 to celebrate the Festival of Britain.  Produced every five years, this production has women cast as Lucifer, Pontius Pilate, the Holy Spirit and other traditionally male roles.  What would the ‘worshipfull wyves’ of medieval Chester make of this?

Chaired by Dr Dawn Llewellyn. Senior Lecturer in Christian Studies at the University of Chester, and author of Reading, Feminism, and Spirituality: Troubling the Waves.