Noah’s Ark discovery as Durham prepares to tell the tale

As a team of evangelical Christians say they've discovered Noah's Ark near the peak of Mount Ararat, festival organisers for the forthcoming Durham Mysteries are watching the story with keen interest.

The story, which broke earlier this week, has provoked passionate debate over the authenticity of the find, which was made by Noah's Ark Ministries International, a firm based in Hong Kong. Samples of wood have been taken from the structure that was discovered near the peak of the mountain in eastern Turkey, and there are plans to apply for it to be given UNESCO World Heritage status. The exact location of the discovery has not been revealed, though sceptics of the find point out that if the Ark was deposited in Turkey, moving ice would have swept it away, and there is no evidence of a flood of such magnitude in the region at the time the Ark is supposed to have taken to the seas.

A new interpretation of the story will be presented as part of the Durham Mysteries in May, when award-winning writer David Almond presents Noah and the Fludd. Directed by Annie Rigby, the adaptation is given a distinctly North East feel with giraffes discovered in Birtley and the Ark coming to rest on Penshaw Monument.

Simon Stallworthy, Creative Director for the Durham Mysteries, said "It just goes to show how relevant the stories featured in the Durham Mysteries are today. This latest announcement of the discovery of the Ark once again has people animated about a tale we all learn in childhood. David's adaptation brings the story right up to date, tackling humanity's failure to care for the planet."

Noah and the Fludd will be performed by group featuring children from Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Primary School in Esh Winning and adults from the Shinwell Centre and Peterlee Day Centre in Peterlee. The Durham Mysteries run from Thursday 27 - Saturday 29 May at various locations across Durham city. For tickets and information visit the website at durhammysteries.co.uk.