This article, describing a Christmas nativity play performed by an entire English village (Calne, in Wiltshire), caught my eye because the cultural and communal aspects (the whole town involved) and, arguably, the religious one ('bringing the Bible to life') are similar to that of the medieval mystery plays. Since my PhD thesis will focus largely on the York mystery plays in modern performance, looking at the cultural and social need which has looked to revive the play cycle in (and for) the present day, it makes an interesting point for comparison and contrast.
As a footnote, some scholars suggest that the British tradition of the Christmas nativity play is directly descended from the mystery play cycles, the only trace of the original medieval drama to survive in modern-day British culture. The people of York, where the mystery plays are still very much alive and kicking, might take issue with that last point!
