Five things to do during the Bank Holiday weekend
May 26th-June 30th York Mystery Plays The Mystery Plays were last performed in York Minster in 2000 — for only the second time in their 700 year history — when Ray Stevenson (from TV’s Rome) played Jesus. This year the plays are back in the minster again, so the scenery is guaranteed to be impressive, with the star wattage of Game of Thrones actor Philip McGinley in the lead. If that’s not enough, the production is directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Phillip Breen from a script by Tony-nominated Mike Poulton. York Minster 01904 623568 yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
May 27th–29th Bradford Literature Festival Celebrating the written and spoken word and showcasing the intimate relationship between words and art forms such as film, theatre and music, set against the city’s distinctive backdrop For details on remaining events go to www.bradfordliteraturefestival.co.uk
May 27th–29th Shaping the Body: Food, Fashion & Life exhibition, York Castle Museum From arsenic dresses to whale-bone corsets, this major new exhibition charts the way fashion, food and fitness have shaped the body over the last 400 years. www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk
May 28th–June 11th Swaledale Festival The music, arts and walking festival rides again with highlights including a talk by art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon and music from the folksy Niamh Ní Charra Band; the Halle Orchestra; singer-songwriter Rory McLeod; cellist Sophie Harris and English soprano and early music specialist Dame Emma Kirkby. Plus, if it (literally) rings your bell, there’s an introduction to campanology. swaledale-festival.org.uk
May 28th & 29th Malton Food Lovers Festival The North Yorkshire market town lives up to its foodie reputation with stalls, street food, a festival bar, festival party and chef demos from (among others) cookery queen Rosemary Shrager and James Mackenzie from the Pipe and Glass Inn. maltonyorkshire.co.uk
