PONTIUS Pilate's main job was to collect revenue and keep order in Judaea. But when members of the assembly brought before him a tax evader, Pilate faced a dichotomy. Jesus Christ was not only accused of failing to pay, which was a capital offence, but treason. And that carried the same penalty.

In all four gospels Pilate lobbies for Jesus to be spared at the trial and acquiesces only when the crowd refuses to relent. In Matthew, Pilate washes his hands to show that he is not responsible. Mark, in depicting Jesus as innocent of plotting against the Roman Empire, portrays Pilate as reluctant to execute him, while in the Gospel of John, Pilate states 'I find no guilt in him'.

Scholars have debated the matter ever since, Pilate in the Communion prayer is considered as someone who made the final decision to crucify Jesus and therefore is a baddie.

But Mike Poulton's script for the 2016 Mystery Plays is less clear cut and York actor Philip Massey, who has the part of the Prefect of Judaea, thinks he deserves another chance.

"I play the role with as much empathy for Pilate as I can," says Philip. "Halfway through one of the scenes he says 'come to the bar and don't be afraid', encouraging Jesus to come up and be justly tried rather than being completely manipulated by Annas, Caiaphas and all the crowds.

"Pilate's job was quite simple. He was deployed to look after the territory and make sure there was no fuss. I think he wanted to give Jesus the benefit of the doubt."

Himself too, no doubt. This was a heck of a gamble. Pilate must have thought, here is some bloke claiming to be the son of God, but what if he is and I'm the one who orders his crucifiction. Why couldn't I have been given a nice peaceful job like Caligula's henchman rather than end up running this territory?

"I'm pretty much baddie although I do side with Jesus for most of the time," says Philip. "When I asked the director could I be a goodie at the end he said definitely not.

"But it is a theological question whether Pilate is a good soul or a bad one. I think he's turned by Caiaphas and Annas, his own conscience would have been to save Jesus."

Philip's last role was playing the will-they, won't-they lover Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Beatrice’s inconstant clown, is one of Shakespeare's great comic characters. Pilate couldn't be more different.

"It's really full on, playing quite an irritable character," says Philip. "He's quite angry so, I found the rehearsal process very challenging. I think in some ways I was more nervous while rehearsing than during performances.

"As Phil (Breen) the director says, to play Pilate you have to come on with a huge hangover."

Philip may not have taken that advice literally, but he was caught in the rain during the Queen's birthday celebrations, twice and without an anorak. Being a bit under the weather since, he says adrenalin is what sees him through.

"It's not a particularly physical part but a very verbose one. Then there is working such a big space that I've not been in before. But it's absolutely fantastic to be performing in the Minster. It's unique and as someone said this is the nearest thing to being a rock n roll star."

The York Minster Mystery Plays run until June 30. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk