Originally staged by the Fishers and Mariners
This is no. 9 in the Cycle and one of the most recognisable across faiths, as a deluge is found in many.
What happens
Noah opens by telling us about himself, now that he is 600 years old, and the prediction made by his father that he, Noah, should be ‘a comfort to mankind’ when God took vengeance on humanity by destroying the world. With the prologue done, he calls his children to collect their mother and get on board. The Ark was constructed in the previous play.
Despite 1 Son’s best efforts, Noah’s Wife (who has no name given) refuses. A scuffle follows in which some of the family try and get her onto the Ark. It becomes clear that she is angry because Noah was always nipping off into the woods without telling her what he was up to. She felt disempowered by his actions. Just as she understands it was God’s will, the waters rise.
NOAH sends his children to look after the animals. Nine months pass and Noah tests the depth of the water, then sends out first a raven, then a dove. When the dove brings back an olive branch they all sing. Finally, they step back on to the soil and look to their future.
Extract
1 SON Mother! Listen
My father’s set to flit – full far!
He bids you haste and hurry on
Unto him, no time to spare.
WIFE Does he now?
Well, good son – get thee back again
And tell him this: I’m staying here.
1 SON Mother! I will tell him what you say
But you must come else be it war!
WIFE War? That I’d like to see.
That boat’s no good. Now run along.
Why give the play to the Fishers and Mariners?
Whenever possible York matched its choice of story to an available Guild. Invariably over the years, the wealth of some Guilds rose and fell. This may be why in the extant evidence The Flood is given to two of them. Perhaps one was short of funds. Or perhaps both wanted the honour (and cost) and decided to share.
These two Guilds sat either side of the fish business. At the supply end were the Fishers who rented locations from the clergy for their ‘garths’, chains of wicker traps across the Ouse in which the fish were caught. These were then sold on to the fishmongers to sell in Thursday Market, or perhaps from shops in Fishergate. They were in regular competition with the Fishers who caught marine fish and brought them in from the coast to sell.
In Lent and on Fridays especially, the catch supplied by both groups would be in great demand.
The Mariners were the boatsmen who manoeuvered craft of all sizes along the Ouse, a vital job enabling the flow of imports and exports to continue smoothly.
The link between these Guilds and the play is obvious and the stations around Ouse Bridge must have been of special significance and celebration for them.
Making the play come alive
This is a fine play packed with imagery and opportunity for visual entertainment. It has sharp contrasts in emotion and a blend of comedy and religious intensity. Here are a few of its gifts to directors:
- An Ark
- A flood
- Animals to get on (and maybe off)
- A family brawl
- Several different locations: outside the ship; on board; nearby where the WIFE waits; leaving the ship
- A rainbow
- A dove and a raven
- At least one song
- A family prayer
In Noah’s Wife this also has of the very few strong female lead opportunities other than Mary or Magdalene.
Making it Real
This might seem an odd thing to say in a theatrical spectacle where rainbows appear and a flood rises, but the work of the Guilds and general daily life are both acknowledged in the text.
The complaint of the Wife against Noah is an age-old one, especially in a society where men have more social freedoms. She is angry that he has been going out, day and night, without telling her where he was going and leaving her sitting at home. Noah’s protest that it was all for God earns him predictable and deserved contempt and reveals the Wife’s core sadness:
NOAH It wasn’t my fault! That’s not it!
It was God’s will. Have no doubt.
WIFE What? Lies! It’s me you want to quit.
As well as truthful relationships, even allowing for the comic trope of a Wife who beats a husband, there are realistic moments of action and instruction too. The Sons are ordered to keep the cattle fed ‘with hay and corn’ and the Daughters to look after the birds with ‘good feed’; the Daughter’s prayer reinforces humility and repentance and begs the Lord to help them.
But most importantly for the Mariners’ Guild is Noah’s testing of the depth of the water: ‘I shall cast lead and measure the space / And how deep the water is we’ll see.’ This method for taking a sounding has remained unchanged for hundreds of years.
The play combines realism with visual representation and lends itself to spectacle.
2026
For this year, the marvellous St Luke’s Church revisits it under the direction of past Pageant Master Mike Tyler and Lyn Comer. St Luke’s contribution to the waggon plays has been second to none over the decades and it’s always exciting to anticipate how they will realise a text.
One thing is certain though: this is an inclusive church and an inclusive Festival, so their realisation of the rainbow will have double significance. They have also added a section from the preceding pageant The Building of the Ark, given to the Shipwrights so that God’s motivation and instructions to Noah appear. The keen of hearing will spot the narrative echoes with Doomsday which ends the Cycle for 2026.
Take a look at their unique pageant waggons, built by designer Mark Comer.
St. Luke’s Parish Church
St Luke’s serves a parish of about 5,500 souls about a mile north of York Minster; standing on the corner of Burton Stone Lane and Shipton Street, St Luke’s has been home to warm, welcoming and worshipping Christian community for over a hundred years.
They meet to worship God every Sunday and have a vibrant programme of events during the week; St Luke’s sees weddings, Christenings and funerals throughout the year, and the Church Hall is a busy hub for church and community social events.
During term-time, they offer a range of children’s and young people’s activities mostly on a Friday evening. St Luke’s welcomes new members to choirs for young people and the young-at-heart, and their Tuesday Club for senior citizens meets every week.
St Luke’s is committed to growing in Christlikeness, influence and numbers; to welcome all, to work to safeguard God’s creation, and to promote justice in the world.
Find out more at https://stlukesyork.org/
We hope you enjoy the play.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Insta and to catch our podcasts which will be continuing even after the Festival is finished.
Dr. Alan Heaven
Pageant Master 2026
