Medieval TheatreMedieval Theatre

History of TheatreHistory of Theatre

900-1500 AD900-1500 AD

Modern PerspectiveModern Perspective

International in scope and religious in International in scope and religious in naturenature

Began as a springtime religious Began as a springtime religious observanceobservance

Celebrated common mythos- the Old and Celebrated common mythos- the Old and New Testaments of the BibleNew Testaments of the Bible

The York CycleThe York Cycle

Actors would get in Actors would get in costume and hop on costume and hop on wagonswagons

Crowds were gather Crowds were gather in the streets to in the streets to watch them passwatch them pass

The wagons would The wagons would often have two levels often have two levels to portray heaven to portray heaven and helland hell

The ProcessionThe Procession

The wagons paraded through town, stopping The wagons paraded through town, stopping before the homes of dignitariesbefore the homes of dignitaries

Each wagon is responsible for the telling of a Each wagon is responsible for the telling of a biblical talebiblical tale

This took place every year on Corpus Christi This took place every year on Corpus Christi DayDay

Began with “The Creation and Fall of LuciferBegan with “The Creation and Fall of Lucifer Ended with “The Judgment Day”Ended with “The Judgment Day”

Corpus Christi DayCorpus Christi Day

A feast day that celebrates The Last A feast day that celebrates The Last SupperSupper

Primarily came about from a nun named Primarily came about from a nun named Juliana of LiegeJuliana of Liege

actual date of Corpus Christi changes actual date of Corpus Christi changes each yeareach year

Conditions of Conditions of PerformancePerformance

It was a religious theatre, therefore its It was a religious theatre, therefore its bookings, costumes, dialogue and bookings, costumes, dialogue and staging came from the Church calendarstaging came from the Church calendar

BackgroundBackground

After the fall of Rome, and before the After the fall of Rome, and before the renaissance, the time is called Middle renaissance, the time is called Middle Ages.Ages.

A very active time as cathedrals were A very active time as cathedrals were built, the crusades occurred, and built, the crusades occurred, and kingdoms were divided and conqueredkingdoms were divided and conquered

The foundations for modern languages The foundations for modern languages were laid during this timewere laid during this time

Background continuedBackground continued

The Church was extremely opposed to The Church was extremely opposed to any other type of theatre due to the any other type of theatre due to the mimes. They still did exist though.mimes. They still did exist though.

The Church developed its own dramatic The Church developed its own dramatic ceremonies to combat the appeal of ceremonies to combat the appeal of pagan rightspagan rights

Pagans believed in multiple gods. (i.e.. Pagans believed in multiple gods. (i.e.. The Ancient Greeks)The Ancient Greeks)

Religious and Civic Religious and Civic PurposesPurposes

The Church felt dramatized episodes made The Church felt dramatized episodes made moral lessons more graphic and easier to moral lessons more graphic and easier to understand.understand.

The Church calendar provided several holidays The Church calendar provided several holidays to develop theatreto develop theatre

Drama remained inside the Church Walls for Drama remained inside the Church Walls for 200 years200 years

The first ever play was called Quen QuaeritisThe first ever play was called Quen Quaeritis

Quem QuaritisQuem Quaritis

3 women looking to 3 women looking to dress the corpse of dress the corpse of ChristChrist

Find out from an Find out from an angel that Christ has angel that Christ has risenrisen

Shows grief turning Shows grief turning into joyinto joy

ManagementManagement

Some major changes began to take Some major changes began to take place by 1400place by 1400

Short religious plays were put together to Short religious plays were put together to make longer playsmake longer plays

Were staged during Spring and Summer Were staged during Spring and Summer Everyday language replaced LatinEveryday language replaced Latin Regular people replaced clergy as the Regular people replaced clergy as the

actors and producersactors and producers

Festival TheatreFestival Theatre

The church still had to approveThe church still had to approve Between 1350-1500 Medieval theatre Between 1350-1500 Medieval theatre

flourishedflourished Clergy began to reduce its participationClergy began to reduce its participation Towns began to finance and produce the Towns began to finance and produce the

festivalsfestivals Producers oversaw everything, they got choirs, Producers oversaw everything, they got choirs,

nobles loaned costumes, meals were prepared nobles loaned costumes, meals were prepared and lodging was provided. Laborers built the and lodging was provided. Laborers built the staging. Basically the whole community helpedstaging. Basically the whole community helped

PlaywritingPlaywriting

AnonymousAnonymous Clergy wrote the four-line playletsClergy wrote the four-line playlets Later the dialogue was expandedLater the dialogue was expanded As it became more elaborate, more As it became more elaborate, more

playwrights were recruitedplaywrights were recruited This opened the door for professional This opened the door for professional

playwrightsplaywrights

Acting and RehearsingActing and Rehearsing

Rehearsals took place Rehearsals took place over monthsover months

Held between dawn and Held between dawn and beginning of the work beginning of the work dayday

Actors were fined for Actors were fined for lateness, not knowing lateness, not knowing lines or being drunklines or being drunk

Multiple playlets were Multiple playlets were rehearsed at the same rehearsed at the same timetime

ActorsActors

Some received fees Some received fees At first it was to reimburse the actorsAt first it was to reimburse the actors Late 1600’s began to see professional actorsLate 1600’s began to see professional actors Very few women performed in medieval playsVery few women performed in medieval plays Only exceptions were for female SaintsOnly exceptions were for female Saints There were two reasons: male hierarchy and There were two reasons: male hierarchy and

trained choir boys had better projectiontrained choir boys had better projection

Visual ElementsVisual Elements

StagingStaging

Were performed on fixed or movable stagesWere performed on fixed or movable stages The fixed stage was usually against buildings The fixed stage was usually against buildings

on one side of town square, or in an on one side of town square, or in an amphitheatreamphitheatre

The movable stages were wagonsThe movable stages were wagons Usually broken into three parts from left to right Usually broken into three parts from left to right

Hell, Earth, and HeavenHell, Earth, and Heaven Nothing was depicted in its entirety. Very little Nothing was depicted in its entirety. Very little

illusion of a real place.illusion of a real place.

Special EffectsSpecial Effects

Producers gave great attention to Producers gave great attention to “secrets”“secrets”

Examples included Hell issuing fire, Examples included Hell issuing fire, smoke and cries of the damned, smoke and cries of the damned, trapdoors, pulleys and ropes.trapdoors, pulleys and ropes.

Due to this we began to see Due to this we began to see semiprofessionals begin to develop for semiprofessionals begin to develop for scenery and special effectsscenery and special effects

Costumes and PropsCostumes and Props

Two types of garments: ecclesiastical robes Two types of garments: ecclesiastical robes and everyday clothesand everyday clothes

Accessories such as wings were addedAccessories such as wings were added Props were used to identify characters i.e. Props were used to identify characters i.e.

sword, mirror, snakes etc..)sword, mirror, snakes etc..) Heaven reps dressed to aweHeaven reps dressed to awe Hell reps dressed to scarHell reps dressed to scar Common humans dressed according to rankCommon humans dressed according to rank Great detail went into designing the devilGreat detail went into designing the devil

MusicMusic

Music was prevalent in medieval theatreMusic was prevalent in medieval theatre Heavenly scenes featured beautiful chorusesHeavenly scenes featured beautiful choruses Trumpets’ announced godTrumpets’ announced god Vocal and Instrumental music bridged Vocal and Instrumental music bridged

intermission.intermission. Singing was down by choirboys and actorsSinging was down by choirboys and actors Instruments were played by professionalsInstruments were played by professionals

Popular Popular EntertainmentsEntertainments

MummingsMummings

Masquerade ballsMasquerade balls Related to drama due to disguise, processions Related to drama due to disguise, processions

and need for a spokespersonand need for a spokesperson In time it included music, song, dance, In time it included music, song, dance,

scenery, and texts. scenery, and texts. Usually a mumming play would end with the Usually a mumming play would end with the

collection of money to pay for refreshments collection of money to pay for refreshments and local charitiesand local charities

Street PageantsStreet Pageants

When dignitaries would come to town When dignitaries would come to town they would set up stages all along the they would set up stages all along the streetstreet

Clerks and children would then address Clerks and children would then address them with songs and speechesthem with songs and speeches

This provided a sense of civic prideThis provided a sense of civic pride

The AudienceThe Audience

Spectators came from surrounding towns and Spectators came from surrounding towns and countryside – all classes camecountryside – all classes came

Posters were put up on city gates and Posters were put up on city gates and invitations were sent out to neighboring townsinvitations were sent out to neighboring towns

A trumpeter rode through town announcing the A trumpeter rode through town announcing the eventsevents

Work was forbidden during performance timeWork was forbidden during performance time Most were free, however in some of Europe Most were free, however in some of Europe

there was a feethere was a fee