Theater in the Middle Ages
Dark Ages - Prior to 900 Rome falls in 400's State no longer finances performances Peformers become nomadic Storytellers, jesters,tumblers, etc. in southern Europe Scops in northern Europe Churche opposes performers & pagan rites - then usurps pagan rites
Liturgical Drama By 10th century, theatrical elements incorporated into annual religious celebrations Type of dialogue exists in responsive church songs - sung between two groups Liturgical drama traces back to Easter services (Quem Queritas - c925) Examples of Liturgical dramas (and a few nonliturgical) date as early as 965 Initially performed only in monastaries By middle of 11th century, liturgical drama has spred and grown
Staging Liturgical Dramas Playing area has 2 components Mansions - small scenic structures Platea - generalized playing area Earliest have only one mansion; later plays have several throughout church Costumes usually church vestments Actors clergy or choir boys Most performances serious, but some - such as Feast of Fools - lead to comedy Inversion of status lets lower clergy ridicule superiors Accompanied by revelry Plays staged - possibly burlesque
Late Middle Ages c1300-1500 Liturgical drama continues - performances outdoors Changes in society lead to changes in theater Growth of guilds and towns, decline in feudalism Rise of universities as centers of learning Challenges to the church Theater dominated by groups outside church, but plays still religious Vernacular Religious Drama (cycle plays) Exist by late 14th century Extant examples from England and France Very popular Combine stylization with realism
Producing and staging cycle plays Several different arrangements exist Religious guilds or confraternities Town or group of towns Individuals, and/or clergy Methods of financing and delegations of duties vary Productions are comples - require director Number of actors varies Most from local population Most from merchant or working class Most male, but occasionally women or girls appear
Costumes Most characters wear typical clothing of the time Supernatural characters often wear masks Actors usually supply own costumes Stages Fixed and moveable Processional staging sometimes used Fixed stages vary widely Scenery Still use platea and mansions Plays divided with intermissions to allow mansion changes as needed Fixed stages most often represent heaven and hell Frequent use of special effects - such as flying scenery & people, trap doors, use of water, transformations, animals - life and effigies, etc.
Music Played before play begins Included in plays - chorus of angels, trumpet fanfare accompanies God s proclamations, multiple songs sung by actors or choir boys, even some dance Audiences Admittance usually free Hours vary greatly
Other forms of drama Secular plays - first evident in 13th Century Farce - first evident in 13th Century, also Depict imperfect humanity Hero is the clever man, even if he is a sinner Typically short (few hundred lines) Staging similar to that of religious plays, but less elaborate Morality plays - first appear in late 14th Century Flourished between 1400 & 1550 Didactic allegories where good triumphs over evil Everyman (c1510) - best known example Extremely diversified by 16th century - not all focused on religion
Decline of Medieval Drama Religious theater disappears in 16th century Church weakened by internal conflict - leads to Reformation Theater can feul conflicts, so Elizabeth I bans all religious plays Similar situations in other European countries Rise of secular theater Examination of Greek and Roman texts & themes Development of different forms of theater in various countries Plays no longer supported by clergy and municpalities -must gain recognition on commercial and artistic grounds
The End!!! (finally)