Scores of writers will share their stories and poems aloud at Merchant Taylors Hall on Thursday June 25, as part of this year’s York Mystery Plays Festival and Fringe.

Festival Poet Laureate Rose Drew will head up Voices of the Plays: A Celebration of York Mystery Plays in Poetry and Prose – an evening of themed story and poetry sharing, after asking for submissions from writers earlier this year:

‘We wanted to inspire our York writers so we set up a poetry and short fiction competition, theming around the Mystery Plays, with a focus on The Flood and War,’ explains Rose, who will be supported by deputy laureate Alan Gillott and Roger Lee of the York Festival Trust.

‘Stories and poems are written to be heard and we loved the idea of our city’s writers sharing their work aloud, in front of a York audience, before we made our final decision on whose work will be published.’

The resulting anthology will be published by Stairwell Books around the end of August, which is when The York Festival Trust plans to release a streaming version or DVDs of the Mystery Plays performed this summer.

‘I have to admit it will really be an excuse to have a great creative night out!’ says Rose, who is well-known in the city for running regular poetry open mics and as the co-founder of independent publisher Stairwell Books.

‘Children’s entries were judged separately for Primary and Secondary students and everyone who entered will receive a Certificate of Participation,’ adds Rose.

‘I’ll be flying in from the States that day and making straight for the Merchant Taylors Hall, but if anything can keep jet lag at bay for me, it’s live fresh writing talent!’

Children’s readings start promptly at 7pm (doors at 6.30pm) at Merchant Taylors' Hall, York, YO1 7BX.

To attend the Festival Live Readings please go to: https://www.yorkmysteryplays.co.uk/ tickets-merch/

stairwellbooks.co.uk