First of all let me state that Mystery Plays are not Agatha Christie style whodunit productions. They are plays written by the local community, originally based on the bible.

At the time most bibles were in Latin and the majority of the population could not read anyway. So to help explain the bible the clergy would enact scenes with the help of local people. Eventually these were taken over by troupes of touring actors, who would take the plays around the towns and villages performing as they went. There were many such troops of actors each offering differing plays. The most famous being from York, Wakefield, Chester and possibly Coventry.

The Penkhull Mysteries are written, performed and enjoyed by local people from in and around the village of Penkhull. Although the plays are loosely based on bible stories, the aim is fun rather than religious teaching.