STAGING the world-famous York Mystery Plays last year cost York Minster almost £600,000 after smaller than expected audiences turned up, the annual accounts and report have revealed.

The report says that the staging of the Plays last summer was a 'significant financial commitment', and the vast majority of costs associated with the production were in line with budget.

However, it goes on to say: "The uptake of tickets was not as successful as forecast, due to various factors, and the ticket income from this event was significantly reduced; as a result the net cost to Chapter for producing the Mystery Plays was £589,000."

The accounts show that expenditure on the Plays was £1,284,000, while income amounted to £657,000.

A spokeswoman said only about 65 per cent of the 40,000 tickets for the 41 performances were sold.

But the Dean of York, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, said the Minster had been privileged to be the Plays' guardian for a season, and the production gained critical acclaim, including Production of the Year at the inaugural York Culture Awards.

She also revealed that Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson had hugely enjoyed seeing the Plays, which featured Game of Thrones star Philip McGinley in the lead role of Jesus, along with a community cast of about 200.

Emma sent a thank you card to the cathedral, saying she had had the 'enormous privilege of seeing your blindingly epic production.'

She wrote: "It was one of the most wonderful experiences I've ever had... everything about it was exceptional - the design breath-taking, the direction flawless and all the acting so perfectly in tune with the text, capturing its agony and wit and naiveté beautifully and movingly. I wish I could have saluted you all in person."

The Dean said a number of those involved in the Plays in a voluntary capacity had since returned to the Minster, some as regular members of the congregation, some as regular volunteers and and some as paid staff.

"What better way could there be of the Minster reaching out and inviting people to come and learn about God's love?"

She also said the raft of publicity attracted by events including the Plays had undoubtedly contributed to an increased number of people coming to visit the Minster, with visitor figures from September to December repeatedly breaking targets.