MYSTERY surrounds the decision by a group of actors to travel overseas for their very own Italian job.

For the eight English actors from the Company of Butchers of the City of York are travelling with their wagon by road to give a special performance of The Crucifixion and The Death of Christ from the York Mystery Play Cycle in Italy.

The event will be part of Italian national celebrations on August 15 in Orsogna, in the Abruzzo region, which, like York, has a tradition of performances on wagons.

The English cast, led by director Simon Tompsett, will be joined by members of an Italian street wagon group.

Roger Lee, chairman of York Festival Trust, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for cultural and artistic exchange between the two groups. We will also be taking something that is quintessentially ‘York’ to a much wider audience in celebration of our city’s 800th year.

“With the assistance of Visit York and City of York Council we will also be promoting York as a tourist destination for the Italians.”

Livia Ceccarossi, president of the Italian group, said: “This year will be very special to celebrate York’s 800 anniversary with our joint production.”

The joint production is the latest link between the York Guilds, who organise the four-yearly street wagon production of the Mystery Plays, and the Associazione Culturale Talami of Orsogna.