Origins of drama and medieval theatre Day 1

Journal What do you think theatre was like before the Greeks? How do you think theatre started? (Before the Greeks)

Warm-Up Game Bang

Agenda Complete the Primitive Theatre Packet. Complete the Greek Theatre Packet. BOTH packets are due at the end of class!

Origins of drama and medieval theatre Day 2

Journal What do you know about Medieval Times? What do you think theatre was like in Medieval Times? Why?

Medieval theatre notes

Medieval Theatre Medieval Theatre occurred in Europe in the 15th Century A.D. It was an oral tradition - very little was written down as few could read or write. It was mostly based on dramatizing The Bible and Bible stories.

Medieval Theatre A range of performances are considered Medieval Theatre, including: Church Plays Mystery Cycle Plays Miracle Plays Morality Plays

Medieval Theatre – Church Plays Medieval Theatre began in Churches. Performances of Bible stories were incorporated into church services. Many services took place in Latin, which regular people found difficult to understand. Dramatizations of Bible stories became a popular way to make people understand and enjoy the Bible stories in Church services.

Medieval Theatre – Mystery Cycle Plays This type of Medieval Theatre is one of the most famous. These plays continue to be re-enacted in some parts of Europe today. Mystery Cycle plays were performances of Bible stories that took place on decorated carts. Plays were divided up among town guilds who would be responsible for putting up the play and decorating their cart. The stories each guild would receive often related to the guild’s specialty. For example, a guild of bakers might stage a performance of The Last Supper. A shipbuilders’ guild would be in charge of the story of Noah and the Flood.

Medieval Theatre – Miracle Plays Miracle plays were based on the lives and the miracles of saints. For example, the story of The Virgin Mary would be performed by the actors.

Medieval Theatre – Morality Plays Morality Plays were designed to teach their audiences lessons and morals. The plays often replaced human characters with personified virtues. For example, Greed, Anger, Envy, and Jealousy became characters in the plays.

Medieval Acting Remember, Medieval Times were 800 years ago! How would people in this time act? What kinds of job would Medieval people have had? Carpenter, Painter, Cloth Maker, Tanner, Baker, Shoemaker, Apothecary, Candlemaker. Each job (or trade) would have it’s own Guild. Guild - A group of people who all practice the same job and control that job in their particular town (like a union). Guilds would perform plays that exemplified their guild. For example, the Baker guild would put on a Church Play based on the Bible story “The Last Supper”.

Medieval Acting Activity Get into groups of 3 and choose a guild for your group to represent. Guild examples include: Carpenter, Painter, Cloth Maker, Tanner, Baker, Shoemaker, Apothecary or a Candlemaker. Create a three minute scene of a “day in the life” of your guild. Each member of the group should have a clear role and relationship to one another. If you are unfamiliar with your guild, do some quick research on your phone. You have 45 minutes to create your scene, then we will perform.

Origins of drama and medieval theatre Day 3

Journal If Greed was a character in a play, what would he/she look like? What would they wear? What one prop would they hold?

Medieval theatre notes

Morality Play - Everyman Everyman is the best known Morality Play. It is still performed to this day. The play was written anonymously in the 15th century and may have been based on a Finish play called Elckerlijc, which was first printed in 1495 with the same story. No one knows which one came first. Everyman is an allegory. The majority of the characters are personified ideas - they represent something. In this play the characters represent different parts of the main character: Goods, Good-Deeds, Knowledge, Strength, Beauty

Morality Play - Everyman There are two levels to the story. First, Everyman’s physical journey from finding a companion through to death. Secondly, there is his spiritual journey from a frivolous young man to one who is prepared to stand before God. Everyman is a play that looks at what a man must do to save his soul. That is the most important aspect of life - how man treats his soul. The body and material wealth means nothing. Being focused on earthly pursuits will only bring about his own downfall.

Medieval Performance Activity In your group, you will create a modern Morality Play based on Everyman. Get into groups of 3 and sign up your group with Ms. Rose. STORY The story of the play is a senior student that has been called before the principal (Principal Power). Principal Power is very angry and considering failing the senior. You must write a script that finishes the story and addresses the following: The senior must give an account as to why he/she should graduate. What caused the student to anger the principal? How will the story end? Will the student graduate? THEME The theme, or lesson that the play is trying to teach the audience, is the most important in a Morality Play. Morality plays are about the universal battle between good and evil. The main character must make a choice. Make sure your play has a strong message and teaches your audience a moral lesson.

Medieval Performance Activity ALLEGORY The play must have 3-5 allegorical characters (The senior and Principal Power count as allegorical characters). Remember: Allegorical characters are symbols. They represent vices, virtues, values, ideas. Their purpose is to teach a moral. What symbols would stand in the way of a student trying to study? What morals would an allegorical character teach in this situation? LENGTH Performance length must be at least two minutes long and no longer than five minutes.   COSTUMES AND PROPS Consider how your allegorical characters would dress and what props they could use to represent their symbol.

Agenda Work on your Morality Play performance. Create a theme for your story. What lesson do you want to teach your audience? Create allegorical characters for your story. What symbols can your character’s represent in the story to help communicate your theme? Write a script that finishes your story. How does the story end? Think of costumes and props that represent your allegorical characters. Rehearse your story.

Origins of drama and medieval theatre Day 4

Journal What is an allegory? What is an allegorical character? How can you be sure the audience will understand the lesson you are trying to teach them in your performance?

Agenda Work on your Morality Play performance. Create a theme for your story. What lesson do you want to teach your audience? Create allegorical characters for your story. What symbols can your character’s represent in the story to help communicate your theme? Write a script that finishes your story. How does the story end? Think of costumes and props that represent your allegorical characters. Rehearse your story.

Activity Reflection