1. The origins of English Drama

2. Pagan origins
Fertility rites mainly based on nature cycles: i.e. seasons
MAY POLE

3. Interest of the Church in pagan celebrations
From celebrations of spring to
celebration of Easter

4. Liturgical drama Sung dialogue between the celebrants
to commemorate great Christian events
in the nave of churches

5. From the nave to the church square
From latin to vernacular
No more priests as actors

6. Mystery or Miracle Plays
13th 14th 15th cent.
Mystery or Miracle Plays
Actors: members of Trade Guilds
Stage: pageants

7. Morality Plays personifications of Vices and Virtues
Characters not from Bible, but
personifications of Vices and Virtues
Everyman, after 1485
Main characters: Everyman, Death,
Fellowship, Beauty, Strength,
Worldly Goods, Kindred, Good Deeds

8. Interludes End of 15th cent.
Combination of serious elements with more comic ones
Vice as a dramatic character
his dialogues rich with puns

9. Folk tales re-telling old stories, i.e. Robin Hood
Actors used to travel from town to town performing for their audiences in return for money and hospitality.
Authorities against actors, because beyond control
Actors classified as “vagabonds and
beggars,” in a 1572 Act of Parliament

10. timeline 1492 America, Leonardo’s Last Supper
1508, Michelangelo Sistine Chapel
Reign of Henry VIII
1534, Act of Supremacy
Reign of Elizabeth I
W. Shakespeare
1576, The Theatre
1599, The Globe

11. SOUTHWARK

12. The Globe
James Burbage
Lord Chamberlain’s Men
W. Shakespeare
The Rose
Philip Henslowe
Admiral’s Men
C. Marlowe

13. The Swan

14. Elizabethan Advertising
Flags were erected on the day of
the performance which sometimes displayed a picture
advertising the next play to be performed.
Colour coding was also used
a black flag meant a tragedy
white a comedy
and red a history.

19. Hell under stage