Medieval Theatre

Drama 1

Fall 2003

Drama in the Middle Ages

The rise of the Christian Church was the civilizing force of the early Middle Ages.

The Dark Ages (400-900AD)—theatre was almost nonexistent but was kept alive by wandering actors.

From 900-1000AD most of Western Europe was divided into Feudal States ruled by powerful lords.

Liturgical Drama

Drama was introduced into the church as a teaching tool.

Theatre was added into the body of the Mass in short, four line playlets called tropes

The oldest trope:

Angels: Whom seek ye in the tomb, O Christians?Maries: Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified, Heavenly BeingsAngels: He is not here; he is risen as he foretold.Angels: Go and announce that he is risen from the tomb.

Church plays

The crucifixion was rarely dramatized.

The only two crucifixion plays are contained in the Carmina Burana, a 13th century manuscript.

When religious plays were performed outside of the church, they were translated into the vernacular (common language).

Three forms of church drama

Miracle plays—about the life of saints

Morality plays—Characters represent things such as “Fellowship” and “Death.” The best known morality play is Everyman.

Mystery plays—Usually a cycle play such as those of York or Chester.

Cycle Plays

In a cycle play (a mystery), the first part in a series would be played in the first town. The group would then travel to the second town and play the first part. After going to all the towns, they would return to the first where they would perform the second part. This would continue until the cycle was complete.

Ariel view of a passion play

The Staging of Liturgical DramasTowards the end of the Middle Ages (1300-1500AD), religious plays began to be performed outside of the church.The playing area would have two basic components

Small scenic structures called mansionsA generalized playing area called the platea

The performers would move from one mansion to the next as the action of the play demanded and live music was played as they moved.

Medieval Theatre photos

Wagons and Mansions

The stages were either fixed or moveable. The moveable stages were known as wagons.Each wagon would house 1-3 mansions on it.The most common mansions were representative of Heaven (usually elevated and gilded) and Hell (usually depicted as an open mouth through which characters could exit and enter).

A medieval mansion

Secrets

They used a system of flies (ropes, pulleys, and batons) to suspend props or even actors above the floor.Flying and trap doors were common.Wine barrels of water were put on the roofs of nearby houses to provide “rain” for Noah’s Arc.Effigies were used for scenes of torture and death.All special effects were called secrets.

The hellmouth

Medieval Costumes

Most characters dressed in garments resembling those worn by their medieval counterparts (a priest would dress like a medieval priest, etc)

Supernatural characters wore masks.

If associated with Heaven, the masks were gilded.

Devils were made to look like birds of prey, monsters with animal heads or creatures with scales, tails, horns, or claws.

Characters from Everyman