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The Jesuit Theatre
In the Seventeenth century many
German schools , protestant and
Catholic, presented plays for teaching
and training students in speaking and
deportment.
Many Plays were presented in Latin,
others in vernacular.
Jesuit Theatre
The school drama reached it’s peak in
catholic schools ran by Jesuits.
The society of Jesus, and outgrowth of
Counter-Reformation, founded in 1534 to
combat heresy and strengthen the
authority of the church.
Education was the primary tool to influence
those who were most likely to become
future leaders of church and state.
Jesuit Theatre
By 1600, 200 schools, universities,
and seminaries were established. By
1706 the number increased to 769.
The Jesuit Theatre
With the Jesuits the educational reached
it’s highest peak prior to modern times.
The first recorded Jesuit production
occurred in 1551. Soon after every Jesuit
school performed at least one play a year
or more.
Students made up casts, plays were
written by professors and audiences were
members of the courts, municipal
authorities, church dignitaries, parents, ect.
The Jesuit Theatre
First plays were in Latin, gradually had
some vernacular and low comedy, while
music, spectacle, and ballet crept in.
Out of Jesuit school many of the most
important works on theatrical practices
were published in the 17th century.
Well equipped theatres Completed with
scenery, machinery, and special effects.
The Jesuit Theatre
In the 17th and 18th centuries the theatre
could be found where ever the order
established schools.
The theatre was highly developed in
Austria and southern Germany.
Such plays such as Jakob Bidermann’s
(Cenodoxus) and Jakob Masen’s
(Androphilus) plays taught the vanity of
worldly pursuits and certainty of divine
retribution.
The Jesuit Theatre, Vienna
The Jesuit Theatre, Vienna
The Jesuit Theatre, Vienna
The Jesuit theatre reached it’s peak in
Vienna with Nikolaus of Avancini’s Pietas
Victrix, Presented befor Leopold. He was
glorified in the play by the victory of the
Christian Emperor Constantine for
Christian faith.
The play included battles at sea, visions,
angels and spirits of hell and enthronement
of Constantine.
Pietas Victrix
Pietas Victrix
Pietas Victrix
The Jesuit Theatre
Despite theatrical sophistication,
Jesuits didn’t encourage professional
theatre because it led the faithful
astray.