Medieval theatre
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| - | {{Template}}'''Medieval theatre''' refers to the theatre of [[Europe]] between the fall of the [[Roman Empire]] and the beginning of the [[Renaissance]]. The term refers to a variety of genres because the time period covers approximately a thousand years of the art form and an entire continent. Most medieval theatre is not well documented due to a lack of surviving records and texts, a low literacy rate of the general population, and the opposition of the clergy to some types of performance. | + | {{Template}} |
| - | At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the [[Roman Catholic Church]] banned theatrical performances, mostly as an attempt to curb the excesses of the [[Roman theatre]]. The Roman theatre was in decline because the economic and political conditions could not support the vast entertainment industry that had grown up in the empire and included [[circus|circuses]], [[horse racing|horse races]], gladiatorial combat, and the Roman comedies that are still sometimes performed today. | + | '''Medieval theatre''' refers to the [[theatre]] of [[Europe]] between the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]] in the 5th century A.D. and the beginning of the [[Renaissance]] in approximately the 15th century A.D. Medieval theatre covers all drama produced in Europe over that thousand year period and refers to a variety of genres, including [[liturgical drama]], [[mystery plays]], [[morality plays]], [[farce]]s and [[masque]]s. Beginning with [[Hrosvitha]] of Gandersheim in the 10th century, Medieval drama was for the most part very religious and moral in its themes, staging and traditions. The most famous examples of medieval plays are the [[English cycle dramas]] and the [[morality play]], ''[[Everyman (play)|Everyman]]''. |
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| + | Due to a lack of surviving records and texts, a low literacy rate of the general population, and the opposition of the clergy to some types of performance, there are few surviving sources on medieval drama of the [[Early Middle Ages|early]] and [[High Middle Ages|high]] medieval periods. However, by the [[Late Middle Ages|late]] period, [[drama]] and [[theatre]] began to become more secularized and a larger number of records survive documenting [[play (theatre)|plays]] and performances. | ||
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| + | ==Texts and Authors== | ||
| + | Many texts survive from this era. Some of the most important ones are: | ||
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| + | *''[[Quem Quaeritis?]]'' - the piece of the liturgical Easter mass that eventually grew into a huge body of religious drama | ||
| + | *"[[The Second Shepherds' Play]]" from the Wakefield (also called Towneley) Cycle | ||
| + | *The York cycle - the longest mystery cycle in existence | ||
| + | *''[[Everyman (play)|Everyman]]'' - this Flemish play is the most famous morality play | ||
| + | *''[[The Castle of Perseverance]]'' - from 1440, it's the earliest known full-length vernacular play in existence. It's especially important because a stage drawing is included, which may suggest [[theatre in the round]]. | ||
| + | *"[[La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin]]" - a French farce that was very popular for over a century. | ||
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| + | Most authors of medieval plays are anonymous. Important ones are: | ||
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| + | *[[Hrosvit]]ha - the first female playwright, a nun from [[Bad Gandersheim|Gandersheim]] | ||
| + | *The Wakefield Master - contributor to some of the plays of the [[Wakefield Cycle]], including "The Second Shepherds' Play." His real name is not known. | ||
| + | *[[John Bale]] - English churchman | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Wakefield Mystery Plays]] | ||
| + | *[[The Second Shepherds' Play]] | ||
| + | *[[History of theatre]] | ||
| + | *[[Medieval French literature]] | ||
| + | *[[Oberammergau Passion Play]] | ||
| + | *[[Carnival]] | ||
| + | *[[The Vice]] | ||
| - | Very little is known about secular drama during the early medieval time. There certainly existed some performances that were not fully fledged theatre; they may have been carryovers from the original pagan cultures (as is known from records written by the clergy disapproving of such festivals). It is also known that mimes, minstrels, bards, storytellers, and jugglers traveled in search of new audiences and financial support. Not much is known about these performers' repertoire and no written texts survive. | ||
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Medieval theatre refers to the theatre of Europe between the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century A.D. and the beginning of the Renaissance in approximately the 15th century A.D. Medieval theatre covers all drama produced in Europe over that thousand year period and refers to a variety of genres, including liturgical drama, mystery plays, morality plays, farces and masques. Beginning with Hrosvitha of Gandersheim in the 10th century, Medieval drama was for the most part very religious and moral in its themes, staging and traditions. The most famous examples of medieval plays are the English cycle dramas and the morality play, Everyman.
Due to a lack of surviving records and texts, a low literacy rate of the general population, and the opposition of the clergy to some types of performance, there are few surviving sources on medieval drama of the early and high medieval periods. However, by the late period, drama and theatre began to become more secularized and a larger number of records survive documenting plays and performances.
Texts and Authors
Many texts survive from this era. Some of the most important ones are:
- Quem Quaeritis? - the piece of the liturgical Easter mass that eventually grew into a huge body of religious drama
- "The Second Shepherds' Play" from the Wakefield (also called Towneley) Cycle
- The York cycle - the longest mystery cycle in existence
- Everyman - this Flemish play is the most famous morality play
- The Castle of Perseverance - from 1440, it's the earliest known full-length vernacular play in existence. It's especially important because a stage drawing is included, which may suggest theatre in the round.
- "La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin" - a French farce that was very popular for over a century.
Most authors of medieval plays are anonymous. Important ones are:
- Hrosvitha - the first female playwright, a nun from Gandersheim
- The Wakefield Master - contributor to some of the plays of the Wakefield Cycle, including "The Second Shepherds' Play." His real name is not known.
- John Bale - English churchman
See also
- Wakefield Mystery Plays
- The Second Shepherds' Play
- History of theatre
- Medieval French literature
- Oberammergau Passion Play
- Carnival
- The Vice
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Medieval theatre" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
