Download Church Drama

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.