CAST members of the sell out York Millennium Mystery Plays in the Minster take their final bow tonight in an emotional last performance.

Leading actor Ray Stevenson, who plays Jesus will immediately shave off his beard in readiness for filming starting tomorrow in Leeds on his new role in Yorkshire Television's At Home With The Braithwaites.

Meanwhile, fellow cast members will return to their normal home lives for the first time in a month.

Workmen will begin the task of dismantling Robert Jones's huge design of steps and platforms and the tiered temporary seating that has housed more than 1,000 people each night at the 28 sold-out performances since June 22.

Work must be completed before Thursday when The Queen visits the Minster and other parts of York.

Melanie Paris, marketing co-ordinator, said: "The plays have been an overwhelming success, with each performance completely sold out. We are sorry to those people who were not able to get a ticket. It was a Millennium event that the city could be proud of."