Medieval Theatre

MEDIEVAL THEATRE

• After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the theatre lost support and funding. With the spread of Christianity throughout Europe, actors and acting were banned and seen as evil from the fifth Century on.

Church Drama • by the 19th century these same Christians began to use

drama to portray the story of their religion and church. • started from short scenes, moved to plays, Churches

became the venue • liturgical/church drama

Church Drama (cont…)

• these plays were acted by priests and choirboys, and later as the popularity increased, by other men (woman were not allowed).

• the Altar was the central background, one side was Heaven and the other was Hell.

• Simple sets and props were used • audience sat in the usual church pews. • As plays became more complicated, Church

performances were performed outdoors

Stepping Out • When the plays left the Church, the towns ran pageants,

featuring the work of different trade guilds (tailors, capenters, etc.)

• The fishermen may stage a scene from the Bible story Jonah and the whale, or Noah’s Ark could be staged by the shipbuilders guide.

• Each scene would be performed in a different place and the audience walked around to watch them, or the scene would take place on a moving procession of carts.

• Plays were religious or Bible stories and managed to be comic at times. Plays became quite complex, with many actors, and elaborate staging, costumes and effects.

Characteristic of Medieval Drama• Various types of Medieval plays :

– biblical stories or mystery plays,– miracle plays (about Saints) – morality plays to teach people right and wrong according to the

Church. • Town people were easily influenced as they were largely illiterate

and uneducated. • Most plays were well written. The plays highlighted the ever

present reality of eternity, by hell and heaven being so dominant on stage. Eternity was more important than time on earth, so historical accuracy was not seen as necessary.

• cycle plays were common. These cycles consist of many short plays that are run together to represent the Bible from beginning to end.

Scenes and Setting

• As there were no theatre buildings, performances took place at various venues and usually outdoors.

• Stages were set against buildings or in the middle of the town square and represented earthly and eternal existence.

• Specific scenery to suggest location were also used in a tokenistic way.

Costuming

• Medieval clothes were worn by all the human characters in the play.

• Fancy dress and accessories were worn by non-human characters like God, Angels, Saints and so on.

• Devils wore elaborate, hideous costumes and masks. Special effects were exciting and numerous, and often highly symbolic.

Moving On •As society changed and began to probe issues deeply, there was a need for non-religious drama •the religious plays declined in the fifteenth century, especially with the new Renaissance and the split in the Church.