Medieval Theatre 500 A D to 1500 A

Early Middle Ages (500 -900) n In the time following the fall of the

Early Middle Ages (500 -900) Secular theatre died in Western Europe with the fall

Roman Literary Drama ® Origins in Greek drama and Roman festivals ® Playwrights ®

Roman Spectacle Gladiatorial Naval combats battles in a flooded Coliseum

Liturgical Drama The Church was responsible for the rebirth of European theatre n The

The 3 M’s of Medieval Plays n Mystery plays: Based on Biblical stories n

PLAYS n n Passion plays based on the last week in the life of

Staging the Plays n PROCESSIONAL n n Pageant wagons Travel a set route and

Pageant Wagons n. A multi-level cart that doubled as a stage. n The underside

Guilds and Cycle Plays Guilds were groups of tradesmen (bakers, goldsmiths, etc. ) whose

Works Cited http: //www. wpi. edu/Academics/Depts/HUA/ TT/Globe/slide 2. html n http: //novaonline. nv. cc.

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Medieval Theatre 500 A. D. to 1500 A. D. A Dark time that brought Christianity to light.

Early Middle Ages (500 -900) n In the time following the fall of the Roman Empire theatre had little importance. Small bands of performers—storytellers, jesters, tumblers, jugglers-- traveled and performed wherever they could find an audience.

Early Middle Ages (500 -900) Secular theatre died in Western Europe with the fall of Rome n Theatrical performances were banned by the Church as barbaric and pagan n Most Roman theatre had been spectacle rather than literary drama n

Roman Literary Drama ® Origins in Greek drama and Roman festivals ® Playwrights ® Tragedy: Seneca ® Comedy: Terence and Plautus

Roman Spectacle Gladiatorial Naval combats battles in a flooded Coliseum

Liturgical Drama The Church was responsible for the rebirth of European theatre n The Church needed ways to teach illiterate parishioners: cathedrals, stained glass windows, sculpture, painting and drama n

The 3 M’s of Medieval Plays n Mystery plays: Based on Biblical stories n Miracle plays: Based on the lives of the saints n Morality plays: allegories

PLAYS n n Passion plays based on the last week in the life of Christ. Trope -short dramatized scenes added to the Catholic mass. Cycles– a series of short plays based on religious history Allegory - a symbolical narrative; the representation of abstract ideas by characters

Staging the Plays n PROCESSIONAL n n Pageant wagons Travel a set route and perform at several locations: like a parade. n STATIONARY n n Mansions A series of stages would be set up around the town square Anchored at either end by Heaven and Hell Elaborate special effects such as floods, flying and fiery pits were very popular

Mansions

Pageant Wagons n. A multi-level cart that doubled as a stage. n The underside was the dressing rooms. n Each guild would create a wagon for their part of the cycle.

Pageant Wagon

Guilds and Cycle Plays Guilds were groups of tradesmen (bakers, goldsmiths, etc. ) whose trade was responsible for part of a story from the Bible which, when combined, made a cycle. n Each guild would compete with the others to see who could produce the most elaborate story. n

Cycle

Works Cited http: //www. wpi. edu/Academics/Depts/HUA/ TT/Globe/slide 2. html n http: //novaonline. nv. cc. va. us/eli/spd 130 et/ medieval. htm n http: //artemis. austincollege. edu/acad/hwc 2 2/Medieval/York 98. html n