Medieval Theatre Overview

Medieval Theatre Overview

• Medieval Theatre existed from 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D.
• Performers in the Early Middle Ages included storytellers, jesters, tumblers, and jugglers.

Church and Theatre

• The Church initially banned theatre, considering it barbaric and pagan.
• Theatre was revived by the Church as a means to educate the illiterate population.

Methods of Education

• The Church utilized cathedrals, stained glass windows, sculptures, paintings, and drama to teach parishioners.

Types of Medieval Plays

• Three main types of plays known as the "3M's":
  • Mystery plays: Based on Biblical stories.
  • Miracle plays: Focused on the lives of saints.
  • Morality plays: Serve as allegories reflecting moral lessons.

Specific Play Types

• Passion play: Centers on the last week of Christ's life.
• Troupe: Short dramatized scenes incorporated into the Catholic Mass.
• Cycle: A series of interconnected short plays depicting various religious historical events.

Key Concepts and Terms

• Allegory: A symbolic narrative that represents abstract ideas through characters.
• Pageant wagon: A mobile stage used to present plays at different locations, similar to a parade.
• Mansion in Medieval Theatre: A setup of stages arranged around a town square, with heaven and hell at either end, featuring elaborate special effects like floods and fiery pits.

Guilds and Competition

• Guilds: Groups of tradesmen responsible for depicting a portion of a Biblical story which, when combined, formed a cycle. Guilds competed to create the most elaborate productions.

Notable Figures and Themes

• Everyman: Represents every individual and is the main character in morality plays, imparting moral lessons to the audience.