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Origins of English Drama: From Medieval Mystery Plays to Elizabethan Theatre

Explore the evolution of English drama from its birth in churches with medieval mystery plays through the development of trade guilds, morality plays, and the grandeur of the Elizabethan Theatre at The Globe.

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Origins of English Drama: From Medieval Mystery Plays to Elizabethan Theatre

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  1. Origins of English Drama

  2. The Middle Ages • Miracle and Mystery plays • Trade Guilds • Pageants • Morality plays • Elizabethan Theatre • Stage • Actors • Scenes • Audience • The Globe Theatre Summary

  3. ORIGINS medieval drama developed from the 10th to the 15th century it was born in churches representation of episodes from the Bible Creation, Fall of Satan, Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, birth of Jesus, episodes from his life, his death and resurrection, Last Judgement

  4. Mystery plays • little by little, out into the churchyard • responsibility taken by laymen (trade guilds) • later performed on pageants

  5. Miracle plays • representation of episodes from the lives of Jesus, Mary, saints • combination of professional and • amateur actors • performed on pageants • acted in English

  6. Trade Guilds • they were groups of • tradesmen and artisans • guild derives from the Old • English geld, which means • “payment” • on particular feast days • they prepared biblical plays • to perform

  7. Pageants • processions associated with secular and religious rituals • important aspect of the celebration of Corpus Christi

  8. re-enacted the entire history of salvation each pageant was sponsored by a guild

  9. more refined invented plots personification of vices and virtues didactic purpose written in vernacular Morality plays

  10. Everyman • Dutch Elkerlijk • late 15th century • Everyman represents all mankind • he is summoned by God, tries to convince several friends to accompany him

  11. allegoricalcharacters, personifyingabstractideas: • Fellowship • Kindred, Cousin • Goods • GoodDeeds • Knowledge • Beauty, Strength, Discretion, FiveWits along the way theyallabandonhim, exceptGoodDeeds

  12. in time plays were also performed in inns (inner courtyard), in noble houses, at court

  13. Elizabethan Theatre • it was influenced by Humanism, which developed in all Europe • authors were supported by the Queen • the Queen had to approve all the plays (Master of Revels) • theatre was considered a form of entertainment and not an art

  14. The Stage • composed of: • a baldachin that covered it • the inner stage behind a • curtain • a balcony • a garret where there were • machines • a trap door

  15. The Audience • plays attracted people from all classes • royals • nobles • commoners • a theatre could hold from 1500 to 3000 people; tickets cost different prices (standing, more or less comfortable seats, shelter)

  16. The Scene • actors used very simple objects • they represented physical sensation and feelings with words • the theatre building was closely linked with the performance

  17. The actors • The Actors • the reputation of early Elizabethan actors was not good • later they became the equivalent of today’s superstars • only men; young boys played female roles

  18. it was built from the timbers of “ The Theatre ” in 1559 • it went up on flames in 1613 • it was destroyed another time by Puritans in 1644 • most of the Globe and all of its stage was open air The Globe

  19. above the main entrance there was the inscription “Totus mundus agit histrionem" (the whole world is a playhouse) • Richard Burbage built the Globe for the Chamberlain’s Men • Shakespeare appeared as an actor on the Globe’s stage

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