PEOPLE from as far away as London and Scotland have joined locals in booking tickets for next year’s York Mystery Plays.

Organisers of the spectacular production in the Museum Gardens are hoping they will be joined by international visitors from all over the globe, and have posted a video on Youtube to explain what the Plays are all about.

Charlotte Dootson, marketing manager for York Museums Trust, which is involved in staging the Plays amid the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey next August, said two videos – one a short “teaser” and the other a more in-depth film offering more information- had been created to try to get across the scale and ambition of York Mystery Plays 2012.

“They will give viewers an insight into the history of the plays and their importance to York’s culture, but also the grandeur, colour and and fun of the production we will be staging next year,” she said.

“We hope people will be inspired by the videos to book tickets to this very special event or come and get involved as one of 1,000 volunteers we are currently recruiting.”

She said it was great to see tickets selling well and being bought from all over the country, from London to Scotland, and Manchester to Bristol.

“It shows just how much interest there is in the plays returning to the city,” she said.

“In the coming months, we are hoping we will see international visitors also buying tickets as they begin to book their breaks in York next summer.”

The Plays, which have not been staged in the gardens since 1988, always used to be a significant additional tourist attraction for York.

Up to 1,000 members of the York community are set to get involved in the 2012 Plays, including hundreds of amateur actors.

• For more information or to book tickets, go to yorkmysteryplays2012.com or phone the box office on 01904 623568.