Medieval Theatre

1. Medieval Theatre

2. Liturgical Drama • Due to church being a major presence in society. • Most drama was presented in the sanctuaries of churches and cathedrals. • But How? Doesn’t the church oppose theatre at this time? • Like Greek Theatre, Roman Catholics had religious rituals with theatrical Elements.

3. Liturgical Drama continued • Added long Musical passages, called Tropes. • Lyrics Written in Latin Only • Presented by members of clergy with the assistance of choirboys. • Had two spatial elements to staging. • Platea – central, open space. • Mansion- scenic structure depicting some locale needed for a biblical story. • Due to liturgical plays being only in Latin no everyday person could understand. • Bringing about….

4. Religious Vernacular Drama • Debate over when Religious Vernacular drama originated. • Moved from inside church to outside • Reasons being: • Plays became too elaborate to stage in churches • Cost became burdensome for the church. • Church officials became opposed to using holy spaces for theatre • Divided into two different categories • Mystery Plays • Cycle Plays

5. Mystery Plays • Term Mystery comes from word ministerium • Meaning religious service • Mystery plays dramatized a series of biblical events • From creation to the end of days.

6. Cycle Plays • Dramatized other stories connect to biblical figures, the lives of saints and contemporary church doctrines. • Presented in “sequence” or cycles • How the name orginated • Vernacular plays were mostly presented in summer or spring • Due to best weather

7. Cycle Plays continued. • Favorite event for cycle Plays was the Feast of Corpus Christ • Which was created to remind the people of the last supper of Jesus. • Cycle plays were also presented at other times in conjunction with other festivals. • Cycle plays were meant to appeal to large crowds and popular tastes. • Plays were often set in biblical times, but the characters were medieval types. • Example: Abraham as an English Serf • This Displacement is called Anachronism • Comedy was also introduced to make cycle plays more appealing. • Example: Noah’s Wife was a nag.

8. Producing the Cycle Plays • Produced by religious Guilds or clubs called Confraternities • Each based off of their actual jobs • Example: carpenters build the sets. • Produced once every 2 to 10 years • Some were very elaborate • Performances began early in the day and continued until late afternoon. • Depending on locale, went on for 2 or 3 days. • Many members of the community were involved.

9. Actors for Cycle Plays • Were amateurs • Customs regarding women performers varied from place to place • France would allow them • England would not! • Often actors played several different roles • Rehearsal time was minimal • Financially burdensome for the actors, but it was a religious duty

10. Costumes of cycle Plays • Actors provided their own costumes • Actors would be assisted if need unusual costumes • Example: God was usually dressed as the Pope. • The modern medieval costuming kept with the anachronistic theme. • Supernatural begins may have worn masks

11. Pageant Masters • The person who supervised the mounting of plays on wagons • Might include advance preparations as well • Including rehearsals • Seeing the plays unfolded on schedule • Did not perform the same duties as modern day directors • More like stage managers.

12. Stages of Cycle Plays • Two Different styles of Staging for cycle plays • Processional • stationary

13. Processional staging • Audiences would assemble in various places and the cycle play would be set up on a wagon that moved from place to place

14. Stationary staging • A series of small scenic mansions stood side by side on a huge platform stage • Usually outdoors

15. The Second Shepards’ Day • Circa 1375 • Dramatizes the biblical story of the shepherds who were told by the angel of Jesus’ birth • Written in the vernacular • Filled with anachronism

16. Morality plays • Attempts to teach a moral lesson through allegorical characters • Meaning people represent ideas • Example: one character is charity, another integrity, another greed • Debates over Morality Plays being religious or secular • Characters were ordinary people instead of saints or biblical figures • The basis of morality dramas is the struggle between two forces, one good and the other evil, for the soul of the main character • Example: God & Satan

17. The decline of Religious Theatre • Roman Catholics withdrew support due to religious drama “weakening” the church. • Outlawed Religious drama in France. • Secular Qualities overwhelmed Religious material.