Final rehearsals are under way at Hereford Cathedral ahead of next week’s premiere of The Hereford Mysteries, a sweeping retelling of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation featuring the voice of Sir David Suchet CBE as God.
Hereford Cathedral – Final Rehearsals for Mysteries
Written and directed by the cathedral’s Chancellor, the Revd Canon James Pacey, and performed by a cast drawn from the local community, The Hereford Mysteries will bring a story of hope, love and redemption to life on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October.
Sir David Suchet CBE, the renowned stage and screen actor, has lent his support to the production by pre-recording the voice of God for the performances.
The Revd Canon James Pacey said:
“Staging a new play is always a fun and exciting challenge — all the more so when you are telling the entirety of the greatest story ever told.
“Thankfully, our cast is more than ready for the challenge. We have worked incredibly hard for many months and cannot wait to share the results with audiences.”
Canon James added:
“Theatre is a wonderful form of storytelling. It invites people into a story and allows them to see familiar things with fresh eyes. This year has given us a special opportunity to explore the Christian story through theatre — from the birth of Jesus in The Hereford Nativity, through his death and resurrection in The Hereford Passion, and now the whole sweep of the biblical story, from Genesis to Revelation, in The Hereford Mysteries. It has been a privilege to bring these stories to life in the cathedral and share them with audiences in a new and imaginative way.”
The Hereford Mysteries will be performed in the nave of Hereford Cathedral on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October, beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £6 for children and are available from the cathedral website or ticket desk on 01432 374 202. The production is suitable for children aged 10 and over. It explores intense themes but contains no visibly distressing scenes.
The Hereford Mysteries follows the success of The Hereford Nativity (2025) and The Hereford Passion (2026), key events in the cathedral’s Year of Storytelling, which coincides with the 1,350th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Hereford.
The production has been supported by the Friends of Hereford Cathedral and the Hereford Cathedral Theatre Angels.
Mystery plays were a popular form of medieval street theatre, presenting biblical stories on pageant wagons. These spectacles entertained and captivated audiences while also sharing the Christian story. The Hereford Mysteries reimagines the mystery-play cycle for a contemporary audience through cinematic lighting and music.
Image credits: Caroline Potter, The Hereford Mysteries in rehearsal.
