Medieval TheatreMedieval Theatre

TypesTypes

Mystery plays (biblical scenes, Christ, Mystery plays (biblical scenes, Christ, divine mystery, re-enactment)divine mystery, re-enactment)

The Building of the Ark, CrucifixionThe Building of the Ark, Crucifixion

Morality Plays (interludes, Virtues and Morality Plays (interludes, Virtues and Vices, Everyman/Youth, psychomachia)Vices, Everyman/Youth, psychomachia)Everyman, The Castle of PerseverenceEveryman, The Castle of Perseverence

Miracle plays (saints’ lives and their Miracle plays (saints’ lives and their miracles)miracles)

Morality play: Everyman Morality play: Everyman (15th c.)(15th c.)

EverymanMessengerGodDeathFellowshipKindredCousinGoodsGood DeedsKnowledgeConfessionBeautyStrengthDiscretionFive WitsAngelDoctor

Morality Play: The Castle of Morality Play: The Castle of Perseverance, mid-15th c.Perseverance, mid-15th c.

MankindMankindBelialBelialWorldWorldGood AngelGood AngelBad AngelBad AngelSeven deadly sinsSeven deadly sinsVirtuesVirtuesDeathDeathGod the FatherGod the FatherOthers Others

Origins of Mystery playsOrigins of Mystery plays

Divine mystery (cf. Greek drama, Dionysos), holy Divine mystery (cf. Greek drama, Dionysos), holy day – holiday (Eliade: The Sacred and Profane, day – holiday (Eliade: The Sacred and Profane, eternal return)eternal return)

Easter tropes: ‘Quem quaeritis?’ (Christ’s tomb: Easter tropes: ‘Quem quaeritis?’ (Christ’s tomb: Angel and the 3 Marys) – later: additional dialogue, Angel and the 3 Marys) – later: additional dialogue, props, set, SD, costumes) – out into the props, set, SD, costumes) – out into the (church)yard(church)yard

Liturgical drama: in Latin, sacred music, clergymenLiturgical drama: in Latin, sacred music, clergymen

Similarly: Christmas tropes (nativity, shepherds) Similarly: Christmas tropes (nativity, shepherds) and Twelfth Night (Magi, star)and Twelfth Night (Magi, star)

Origins 2. Folk Rituals/Dramatic Origins 2. Folk Rituals/Dramatic and Carnivalesque Ritualsand Carnivalesque Rituals

Secular drama: in English, folk music, Secular drama: in English, folk music, dance, amateursdance, amateurs

The Battle of Carnival and LentThe Battle of Carnival and LentChristmas mummings (miming, music, Christmas mummings (miming, music,

dance, sword fighting, death and dance, sword fighting, death and revival)revival)

St. George plays St. George plays Harvest festivals, wedding playlets, Harvest festivals, wedding playlets,

etc.etc.

Brueghel, the Elder: The Battle Brueghel, the Elder: The Battle of Carnival and Lent, 1559of Carnival and Lent, 1559

P. Brueghel the Younger: P. Brueghel the Younger: The Kermesse of St. George, 1628The Kermesse of St. George, 1628

PP. Brueghel the Younger: . Brueghel the Younger: Wedding Dance in a BarnWedding Dance in a Barn

Morris dancersMorris dancers

Mummers' Play at Haddon HallMummers' Play at Haddon HallFrom Nash, From Nash, The Mansions ofThe Mansions of

England in Olden TimeEngland in Olden Time (1849) (1849)

Performances of Mystery Performances of Mystery PlaysPlays

The Feast of Corpus ChristiThe Feast of Corpus ChristiChrist’s redemptive power through the Christ’s redemptive power through the

miracle of the Host (procession of the miracle of the Host (procession of the ‘holy body’)‘holy body’)

1264, Pope Urban, popular from 14th c.1264, Pope Urban, popular from 14th c.23 May-24 June23 May-24 JuneThe whole town taking part (audience, The whole town taking part (audience,

players, etc.) – collective experienceplayers, etc.) – collective experience

Archdeacon Rogers, 1594, Archdeacon Rogers, 1594, Harleian MiscellanyHarleian Miscellany

the Chester plays were given on Whit-Monday, Tuesday, and the Chester plays were given on Whit-Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.Wednesday.

"The manner of these plays were, every company had his pageant "The manner of these plays were, every company had his pageant or part, a high scaffold with two rooms, a higher and a lower, upon or part, a high scaffold with two rooms, a higher and a lower, upon four wheels. In the lower they apparelled themselves, and in the four wheels. In the lower they apparelled themselves, and in the higher room they played, being all open on the top, that all higher room they played, being all open on the top, that all beholders might hear and see them." They were played, he goes beholders might hear and see them." They were played, he goes on to say, in every street:on to say, in every street:

"They began first at the abbey gates, and when the first pageant "They began first at the abbey gates, and when the first pageant was played, it was wheeled to the high cross before the mayor, was played, it was wheeled to the high cross before the mayor, and so to every street. So every street had a pageant playing and so to every street. So every street had a pageant playing before it at one time, till all the pageants for the day appointed before it at one time, till all the pageants for the day appointed were played. When one pageant was near ended, word was were played. When one pageant was near ended, word was brought from street to street, that so they might come in place brought from street to street, that so they might come in place thereof, exceeding orderly, and all the streets have their pageants thereof, exceeding orderly, and all the streets have their pageants before them, all at one time playing together, to see which plays before them, all at one time playing together, to see which plays was great resort and also scaffolds and stages made in the streets was great resort and also scaffolds and stages made in the streets in those places where they determined to play their pageants."in those places where they determined to play their pageants."

The reconstrucetd route of the medieval pageant The reconstrucetd route of the medieval pageant wagons on a 1610 map of Yorkwagons on a 1610 map of York

Pageant WagonsPageant Wagons

Coventry play, Hellmouth, later illustrationsCoventry play, Hellmouth, later illustrations

Stage used in the ValenciennesStage used in the ValenciennesPassion Play, 1547. ParisPassion Play, 1547. Paris

PerformancesPerformances

Pageant wagons (moving through the Pageant wagons (moving through the town or at the main square in a circle) or town or at the main square in a circle) or set scaffolds – each for one sceneset scaffolds – each for one scene

’’epic theatre’ – ‘the whole story’, focus on epic theatre’ – ‘the whole story’, focus on ChristChrist

Trade fairs – trade guilds (advertising, Trade fairs – trade guilds (advertising, showing the skill, devotion)showing the skill, devotion)

Elaborate set and props, effects, Elaborate set and props, effects, hellmouth, thunder, etc.hellmouth, thunder, etc.

Mystery and mastery (amateurism)Mystery and mastery (amateurism)

CyclesCycles

Chester cycle – 25 episodesChester cycle – 25 episodesYork cycle – 48 episodesYork cycle – 48 episodesCoventry/N-town cycle – 42 episodesCoventry/N-town cycle – 42 episodesWakefield/Towneley cycle – 32 Wakefield/Towneley cycle – 32

episodes, 6 by the Wakefield Master (fl. episodes, 6 by the Wakefield Master (fl. 1475)1475)

Disappearance of mystery plays: 16th Disappearance of mystery plays: 16th c. – new genres, Henry VIII, ‘popish’, c. – new genres, Henry VIII, ‘popish’, last Wakefield perf. 1576 (The Theatre last Wakefield perf. 1576 (The Theatre in London, professional actors)in London, professional actors)

KING JAMES BIBLE, 1611, Luke, Chapter 2.KING JAMES BIBLE, 1611, Luke, Chapter 2. 6:6: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she

should be delivered. should be delivered. 7:7: And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8:8: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. over their flock by night. 9:9: And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. about them: and they were sore afraid. 10:10: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. joy, which shall be to all people. 11:11: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Lord.

12:12: And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. clothes, lying in a manger. 13:13: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, God, and saying, 14:14: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15:15: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16:16: And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. the babe lying in a manger. 17:17: And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. saying which was told them concerning this child. 18:18: And all they that heard it wondered at those things which And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. were told them by the shepherds. 19:19: But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. heart. 20:20: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. them.

King James Bible, 1611, John, King James Bible, 1611, John, Chapter 1Chapter 1

29:29: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. world. 30:30: This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31:31: And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32:32: And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33:33: And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34:34: And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.